Finding Broncos: Kilian Zierer | OT

Measurements

Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 304 pounds
Arms: 34-1/8 inches
Hands: 10-2/8 inches

Pros

Has excellent movement skills for his size, stemming from his soccer background.
Moves quickly to get to the second level when working inside or out.
Has solid length and uses it well.
His feet are light and quick, which helps protect the outside edge in pass protection.
Does well to keep defenders off of his body.
Uses the pass rushers momentum against the to extend the arc around the quarterback.
While his punches aren't the strongest, they are consistently well-timed and placed.

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Cons

Lacks experience, with one year as a starter at Auburn.
Will need to get stronger for the NFL, with a lack of strength and power being his biggest concern.
Might be a bit scheme limited to an outside scheme only.
Doesn't have great grip strength.
Doesn't sustain blocks well enough consistently.
Struggles to play with good bend and has significant balance issues as a result.
Athletic and a good mover, but there is no fluidity with his movements.
Feet are light and quick, but the footwork overall is labored and awkward.

Overview

Zierer is an athletic developmental tackle. He isn't as smooth as you would hope, especially with a soccer background, though it does help his movement skills. He will have to develop multiple technical areas, but the bigger key is getting stronger. It might be a year or two of working on the practice squad and in the weight room before he can make a serious push for the roster.

Fit with Broncos

The Denver Broncos need to find a developmental tackle, and finding more than one may be the way to go. Zierer has a chance to be drafted, but it seems more likely he will go undrafted. He will need a couple of years of development, which the coaching staff can afford to take a shot on, with Sean Payton having a few years of job security, at the very least.

It will be a test to new Broncos offensive line coach Zach Strief, who made it to his position with only two years of coaching experience, though he played in the NFL for multiple years. What Strief did, going from the 220th overall pick to being a great right tackle for the Saints.

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