Finding Broncos: Five Offensive Linemen to Help the Unit Rebuild

With Free Agency underway, the Denver Broncos have already added two huge pieces to their offensive line. However, there is still work remaining to rebuild their line. They can still use help at center and improve their depth. These five prospects can add competition along their interior for depth or even to be the starting center.

Jovaughn Gwyn | IOL | South Carolina

Pros

Has good movement skills.
Despite the limited size, he isn't lacking power.
Has plenty of grip strength to sustain blocks.
Plays with great natural leverage.
Praised for his football IQ, which is easy to transition to center.
Has an excellent foundation with technique.
Excellent body control with his movement.
Power in lower body with a strong enough anchor.

Cons

Doesn't have ideal size or length.
Going to be limited as a center only.
Defenders can get into his chest with his lack of length.
Isn't wide enough to eat space in the gaps naturally.
Has to improve his technique when taking on double teams and shifting off of double teams.

Fit with Broncos

Gwyn has enough to last in multiple schemes but lacks positional versatility. During his time with the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton liked to have positional versatility, which could go against Gwyn. However, being able to operate every run concept could boost his value for Payton, who adapts his run game to his running backs.

Jon Gaines III | IOL | UCLA

Pros

Excellent athlete and was one of the best performers at the Combine.
Praised for his intelligence on and off the field.
Plenty of experience at multiple positions on the line.
Excellent pulling technique and is quick to find his landmarks outside or on the second level.
Best attribute with his hands is he keeps them working, and they only lack effectiveness.
Great footwork, every rep.
Gives it everything every rep.
Might be best as a center, but he has the versatility to play multiple spots.

Cons

Plays high and tight, which is easy to manipulate his balance.
Has to control his posture, pad level, and bend to hold up.
Liklely limited to a zone scheme to capitalize on his athleticism and not expose him to issues generating power.
Hand technique is lacking, and hands, in general, don't carry much power.
Doesn't have the power to drop and anchor.

Fit with Broncos

If Payton wants an athlete on the interior, then Gaines was one of the best at the Combine this year of the interior offensive lineman. There is positional versatility with Gaines, but he may be best suited to playing center, which is where the Broncos can still use some help. There is enough to work with to have Gaines be a starter as a rookie if he wins the job.

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Sidy Sow | IOL | Eastern Michigan

Pros

Plenty of experience in college.
Excellent build and frame.
Extreme power throughout his body.
Powerful punch that is precise and delivered on time consistently.
Can drop and anchor quite well.
Tested out extremely well with a relative athletic score of 9.76.
Carries his weight well and doesn't have much bad weight on the frame.
Had to stop his drive when he gets moving forward in the run game.

Cons

There is a lot of experience, but there are mistakes that shouldn't be there with the experience level.
Misses reads on stunts and twists.
Angles when pulling or climbing are not where it should be.
Lacks a general sense of what defenders are coming at him with.
There is little to no bend consistently.

Fit with Broncos

Sidy Sow is a powerfully built athlete who has to develop so much to work in the NFL. He will need a year or two to sit as a depth piece to develop the technique and focus on getting the pad level low and awareness up to par. He is a project, but his athleticism and power are a draw. Sow makes a lot of sense for the Broncos as a piece to develop on their interior, which may be in a position to take a starting job after a couple of seasons if it all comes together.

Jerome Carvin | IOL | Tennessee

Pros

Plenty of experience over five seasons, with over 1,700 snaps in the last two seasons.
Has played over 500 snaps at all three interior positions.
Did well in pass protection, with 21 total pressures and two sacks in the last two seasons.
Has a great frame with good size.
Keeps himself restrained as a blocker and doesn't lose body control.
Plays with a good pad level and consistent bend.
Solid anchor and power to generate drive.
Has good awareness through the rep.

Cons

14 penalties in the last two seasons.
Doesn't have great mobility or agility.
Needs his hand technique to be completely reworked.
Timing and placement with his punch are lacking.
Not overly quick when getting off the line.
Modest power and athleticism overall.

Fit with Broncos

While Carvin may not be a great starter due to lacking an elite trait, he has the attributes to be an ideal depth piece. He has the positional versatility to play all five spots on the offensive line. His technique is mostly solid and reliable, except for his hand technique which can be developed. At the very least, Carvin is what you look for in a depth piece, and the Broncos still need to improve their depth on the line.

Alan Ali | IOL | TCU

Pros

Experienced starter with over 4,000 snaps played over all five spots.
He transferred to TCU for 2022 and had a good season as the starting center.
He gave up four sacks over a five-year career.
Only 11 penalties over five years.
Decent enough size and length, especially for a center.
Good and consistent technique, especially in his hands.
Has the right attitude and desire you want to see.
Always looking for work and never settles.
High football IQ and was praised for how quickly he picked things up at TCU.
Works well on double teams.

Cons

Could do better cleaning up the weight.
Sometimes will get lost in what's going on.
Not overly quick and can struggle against quick gap shooters inside.
He doesn't do well in protecting his chest.
Bad habit of lunging to make up for lack of ideal length.
Smart with technique but lacking physical and natural gifts.

Fit with Broncos

Ideally, the Broncos are looking for a new starting center, and Ali isn't a fit for that as a rookie. He can pick things up quickly, but a lot needs to be developed, which makes him better suited to sit a year before competing to start in year two. However, there is still enough to offer up some competition for the starting job as a rookie, though it will likely be a bumpy ride.

While the Broncos don't currently have a lot of draft picks, they are trying to add more. Either way, there are some solid options, even outside these five, to help them finish rebuilding their offensive line.

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