2026 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos big board for offensive linemen

Well, the wide receiver rankings were a complete dud yesterday. This is expected since I have been rushing to get this project live before the draft begins. Essentially, once I dug into how the AI ranked that position group I found it put an over-emphasis on the potential departure of Marvin Mims Jr. either next week or next offseason and completely ignored Sean Payton/George Payton tendencies when drafting wide receivers. I plan to fix that for the full offensive big board release early next week.

The good news is that the running back and tight end rankings are still pretty solidly aligned with that methodology. Not sure why it went awry on receivers. Anyway, I’m moving on to the offensive line in this post. We’ve got centers, offensive guards, and offensive tackles here. Each player is tiered based on the PPFS score and current roster need.

Note: Prospects scored against the empirically-derived Payton/Paton Fit Score (PPFS) rubric. Tier 1 (A, Bullseye: 85-100) and Tier 2 (B, Strong Fit: 75-84) prospects shown in full. Tier 3-4 listed at end of each section. All descriptions of prospects are AI generated as part of its reasoning and ranking. Round projections based of Dane Brugler’s The Beast draft board.

Broncos Big Board: Centers

Jager Burton, Kentucky, C, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’4”/312 fifth-year senior with 32 1/2” arms and 47 career starts spread across LG (43%), C (37%), and RG (20%) — rare true three-position interior versatility with a “Moose” frame. Three-time game captain in 2025, didn’t allow a sack as a senior at center, and fits the Day-3 R6 capital window cleanly. Fills Denver’s §2.6.8 complementary gap exactly as the R6/R7 C/G-eligible developmental insurance behind walk-year Forsyth, checks the P4 SEC box, carries partial-credit captain modifier, and triggers no gates. The cleanest fit for the §2.6.8 lane and the top realistic Broncos C target.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~78)

Matt Gulbin, Michigan State, C, Projected Round: 5th
A fifth-year senior Michigan State 2025 team captain and the only OL in the class with double-digit college starts at all three interior positions (12 C, 11 LG, 11 RG) — the explicit C/G versatility profile §2.6.8 calls for. Wake Forest-to-MSU transfer, East-West Shrine Bowl invite (knee scratch), studies Alex Mack on film, “tell-it-like-it-is” leader who publicly said “being a captain was the honor of my life.” A knee clean-up procedure is a yellow-flag medical (−3) that offsets some upside, but the room-fit is exact: captain modifier plus interior flex stack cleanly, fills the R6/R7 developmental-insurance gap, and matches the prototype for the lane — slightly behind Burton on production volume.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~76)

Tier 3: Jaren Kump, Jordan White, Pat Coogan, Nick Dawkins, Brian Parker II

Tier 4: Jake Slaughter, Sam Hecht, Logan Jones, Connor Lew, Trey Zuhn III, Parker Brailsford, James Brockermeyer, Delby Lemieux — all Wattenberg-duplication hard-gated regardless of individual talent.

My Analysis: I honestly don’t see any world where they Broncos draft a center next week. They have Luke Wattenburg and unless they are looking to replace Alex Forsyth, I don’t see a need to spend what little draft capital they have on another center. If anything, sign an UDFA to compete with Forsyth in camp and go from there.

Broncos Big Board: Offensive Guards

Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M, OG, Projected Round: 1st-2nd
A 6’5”/315 SEC guard with 35 career starts split 22 at LG and 12 at RT — a true OG/OT tweener who idolizes Quenton Nelson, squats 705, and competed in every combine drill at sub-22 age. Plays with a violent first punch, sticky hands inside, and the kind of position flex Sean Payton has historically prized in his Day-2 OL picks. The proven SEC LG starter resume plus real RT tape on the kick-out side makes him the cleanest Powers succession answer at R2 #62 — and the only top-50 prospect on the board who checks both the LG-starter and the position-versatility boxes Denver values.
(Tier 1, PPFS ~89)

Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, OG, Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
A 6’4”/316 Georgia Tech four-year starter with 33 1/4” arms, two-time team captain, back-to-back First Team All-American honors, and a Senior Bowl invite. Brugler explicitly notes that Rutledge “models his finishing toughness after Quinn Meinerz” — a literal-template comp in a Day-2 prospect. Plays with the fiery pulling, grip-strength finish, and snap-to-whistle nasty that defines Meinerz’s role on the Broncos’ offensive line. With Powers walking after 2026, Denver could pair Rutledge alongside Meinerz to give the interior line two mauler bookends. Foot hardware from a December 2023 car wreck (broken big toe, two clean-up surgeries) was a single-event acute injury that healed cleanly, not a chronic structural concern.
(Tier 1, PPFS ~88)

Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame, OG, Projected Round: 3rd-4th
A 6’5”/310 Notre Dame 2025 team captain with 32 7/8” arms, 16 LG and 6 RG career starts, and 2024 Second Team All-American honors. Brugler’s “Wyatt Teller vibes” comp combined with a blue-collar Wisconsin upbringing makes him a natural personality fit for Denver’s locker room. Quick to fit, quick to cover up, plays the position with the kind of nasty finish at the second level the Broncos value. An LG-primary captain in the Day-2/3 capital range is exactly the Powers succession answer the room needs. Two separate cleared structural injuries (2025 left MCL, 2024 right ankle tightrope) are the only thing keeping him off pure-bullseye status.
(Tier 1, PPFS ~85)

Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, OG, Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
A 6’4”/314 Oregon LG with 11” hands, 33 5/8” arms, and an 82 7/8” wingspan. Started 51 career games (39 LG, 12 RG) including 40 straight, earned 2025 First Team All-American honors, and captained five games. Born and raised in Denver (Thomas Jefferson HS) — a real local-roots connection — and rides the Oregon pipeline into an NFL-ready LG starter profile with an “explosive O’Cyrus Torrence” comp. Mile High fans would love the local-kid story. A 25-year-old rookie age penalty and a declined Senior Bowl invite knock the score, but the pipeline plus Denver roots plus 51 starts plus LG primacy plus length make him a true Powers successor candidate at Day-2 capital.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~83)

Logan Taylor, Boston College, OG, Projected Round: 4th
A 6’7”/314 Boston College 2025 team captain with 33 7/8” arms, an 82 5/8” wingspan, and 46 career starts spread across 25 at LT, 11 at LG, 8 at RG, and 2 at RT — literally the definition of an OG/OT tweener with logged 100+ snaps at four of the five OL positions. “Alpha” personality and “one of the most mature guys in the locker room” per scouting reports; Brandon Linder comp. The longest-framed and most-flexible profile in the class. A 2021 hip surgery caps the starter ceiling, but the position flex, captain designation, max-experience production, and length make him a Day-3 bullseye for the Powers succession lane.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~80)

Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern, OG, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’4”/301 FCS-to-Power-4 guard with 55 career starts (98.3% RG), 2024 SDSU 2nd-Team All-American honors, 2025 Northwestern Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, back-to-back FCS national championships, and an East-West Shrine Bowl invite — the literal Meinerz template, right down to the FCS-to-pro path. Short arms, a 26-year-old rookie age, and a torn labrum are real caps, but the production volume and small-school-overachiever profile match the path Denver took to find their All-Pro RG in the first place. A clean fit for the back half of the OL board. (Tier 2, PPFS ~80)

Gennings Dunker, Iowa, OG, Projected Round: 3rd
A 6’5”/319 Iowa lineman with 33 1/2” arms, 38 career starts (37 RT / 1 RG), the 2025 Iowa Joe Moore Award OL designation, 2025 3rd Team All-Big Ten honors, a Senior Bowl invite, and a “Paul Bunyan” mauler reputation that hits Paton’s intangibles dial. The RT-to-OG kick-in flex fits the LG succession lane behind walk-year Powers cleanly, and the Iowa OL development pipeline is exactly the kind of source Denver’s board has rewarded. Solid Day-2 capital match for a long-term LG starter.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~80)

Jalen Farmer, Kentucky, OG, Projected Round: 3rd-4th
A 6’5”/312 Kentucky pure-RG mauler with 34 1/4” arms, 24 career starts at RG (100%), a four-game captain designation, and a late Senior Bowl invite. Pure smash-mouth gap-scheme profile with long arms and P4 SEC tape. Production volume is thin, but the long arms, Senior Bowl validation, captain credit, and the exact bowling-ball RG body Denver loves slot him cleanly into Day-2 capital as a Meinerz-archetype interior mauler.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~79)

Carver Willis, Washington, OG, Projected Round: 6th
A 6’5”/303 two-time captain (2024 Kansas State, again at Washington) who played LT primarily in 2025 and owns 18 RT / 10 LT career starts — a true OT-to-OG conversion profile. Senior Bowl invitee with quick puller ability, range, fluid movement in space, and a “salty play demeanor,” trained by LeCharles Bentley. Underdeveloped bulk (303 lbs) and no interior college tape are real knocks, and a torn MCL in September 2025 is fully cleared. The zone-mover skill set plus two-time captain plus length plus LG fit makes him an ideal Sean Payton outside-zone interior body.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~77)

Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma, OG, Projected Round: 4th
A 6’4”/316 Oklahoma interior lineman with 34 1/2” arms, 46 career starts (42 RG, 2 C, 2 RT), an East-West Shrine Bowl invite, and a Pat Tillman Award character credential — a serious intangibles badge Paton has consistently rewarded. Slow-twitch with a projection as a G/C-capable backup, but the long arms, production volume, and elite character profile check the key boxes for the back end of the OL board.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~77)

Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA, OG, Projected Round: 7th
A 6’7”/319 UCLA 2025 team captain with 49 career starts (39 RT / 8 RG / 2 LT) — max experience and the second-most starts in program history. “Beloved” program guy who finishes hard in the run game. Forty-one career penalties (nine in 2025) and an upright style keep him out of the top of the tier, but the longest-framed Day-3 OT-to-OG flex on the board plus captain designation plus 6’7”/319 frame makes him a logical late-round Powers succession target.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~76)

Anez Cooper, Miami, OG, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’6”/342 Miami RG with legitimately long 34” arms, 45 career starts (98.5% at RG), 2025 2nd Team All-ACC honors, and a hulking gap-scheme mauler build. Played as much as 400+ pounds in high school. No Senior Bowl (Shrine Bowl pull-out) is the cleanest knock, but the 34” arms, production volume, and raw physical dominance translate into a real Day-3 mauler bet for the interior. Body composition discipline is the developmental ask.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~76)

Caden Barnett, Wyoming, OG, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’4”/316 Wyoming RT/RG with 33 3/8” arms, 23 RT / 12 RG career starts, a 2025 RG designation, and both Shrine Bowl and Hula Bowl invitations. Above-average athletic testing (5.03 forty, 4.55 SS, 7.65 3-cone), a “tone-setter” vocal-leadership profile, and — the detail that matters most to this front office — he was mentored at Wyoming by current Broncos OT Frank Crum. The RT-to-OG flex plus athletic test plus scheme-diverse appeal plus Wyoming-Crum pipeline tie makes him a legitimately interesting Day-3 Powers succession flier.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~75)

Jeremiah Wright, Auburn, OG, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’5”/331 Auburn RG/LG with 33 1/8” arms, 25 career starts (24 RG / 1 LG), Senior Bowl validation, and a “beloved” character profile. A 2021 ACL tear is fully cleared, and Wright comes in as a 25-year-old rookie. The pure RG power-mauler profile with Senior Bowl bonus, P4 SEC pedigree, and length slots him cleanly into Day-3 capital as a gap-scheme interior body the Broncos can pair next to Meinerz.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~75)

Tier 3: Kage Casey, Olaivavega Ioane, Beau Stephens, Keagen Trost, Alex Harkey, Fernando Carmona, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Henry Lutovsky, DJ Campbell

Tier 4: Josh Gesky, Micah Morris, Dillon Wade, Joshua Braun, Jaeden Roberts, Ethan Onianwa, Sam Hagen

My Analysis: To me, guard is a soft need. I think Denver might be set with or without Ben Powers after this season, but I am never against accumulating more talent in the trenches. But with so little draft capital, I feel like this could be a position that doesn’t get addressed in the draft this season.

Broncos Big Board: Offensive Tackles

Austin Barber, Florida, OT, Projected Round: 3rd-4th
A 6’7”/318 four-time SEC academic honor roll selection who took less NIL money to stay at Florida — exactly the gritty, team-first profile Paton has historically targeted. With 33 3/4” arms and 39 career starts at both left and right tackle, Barber plays with controlled hands, a strong anchor, and the kind of polished pass-set technique that travels to Sunday. Confirmed Broncos pre-draft visit. The long-armed swing-tackle archetype with positional versatility at both bookends fits Denver’s outside-zone scheme cleanly and gives the room a true developmental answer behind Bolles in the long term and McGlinchey in the medium term — the cleanest on-board match for the room’s actual need.
(Tier 1, PPFS ~85)

Isaiah World, Oregon, OT, Projected Round: 5th-6th
A 6’6”/323 sixth-year senior with 34 1/2” arms and 49 career starts at both left and right tackle. Played four years at Nevada before transferring to Oregon for his final season; accepted a Senior Bowl invite and was forced to pull out for medical. On tape he is a controlled, long-levered pass-protector who plays with patience in his sets and the foot quickness Denver wants in its outside-zone tackles. The Oregon pipeline tie is the kind of connection this front office has actively leaned into. The January 2026 ACL surgery is the only real concern — at three months from the draft, he projects as a redshirt rookie before contributing in 2027 as a long-term LT successor candidate behind Bolles.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~82)

Max Iheanachor, Arizona State, OT, Projected Round: 1st-2nd
A 6’6”/321 ascending P4 tackle with 33 7/8” arms and 31 career starts at right tackle. Senior Bowl standout who took a confirmed Broncos pre-draft visit and draws Penei Sewell developmental-template comps from evaluators. Plays with a strong base, mature hands, and emerging anchor against power; the captain-adjacent leadership reviews and big upside arrow make him the kind of long-armed RT successor Denver could plug in behind McGlinchey on a multi-year timeline. Realistic R2 #62 target if he’s on the board.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~82)

Travis Burke, Memphis, OT, Projected Round: 3rd
A 6’9”/325 tackle with elite 35 1/8” arms and 46 career starts at both left and right tackle — a max-experience production stack on a frame that maps directly to the McGlinchey/Crum/Peart depth-chart template Denver has built and held. G5 path through three schools, and a late lower-body injury kept him out of his Shrine Bowl reps. The combination of height, length, and proven position versatility makes him an ideal outside-zone scheme fit, and the developmental ceiling at this physical profile is one of the highest on the OT board.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~81)

Jude Bowry, Boston College, OT, Projected Round: 4th-5th
A 6’5”/314 P4 ACC tackle with legit 34” arms, a 2025 team captain designation, “Freaks List” alum status, and a confirmed Broncos pre-draft visit. Played both tackle spots in college and runs hot when you flip the tape on. Only 23 career starts and a 2025 hip-flexor injury cap the production line, but the captain-plus-long-arms-plus-pre-draft-visit-plus-Day-3-grade combo is exactly the kind of swing-tackle developmental lane this regime has built quietly through UDFA and late-round picks.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~80)

Blake Miller, Clemson, OT, Projected Round: 1st-2nd
A 6’7”/317 Clemson 2025 team captain with 34 3/8” arms and 54 consecutive career starts — the most career starts on the entire OT board. P4 ACC tape, mature pass-pro technique, and the kind of high-floor durability Denver values in a long-term RT successor behind McGlinchey. Declined Senior Bowl is the one negative signal, and the R1-R2 grade may push him out of the realistic capital window, but the captain-plus-elite-arms-plus-54-starts-plus-tall-frame stack is one of the most polished profiles in the class.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~80)

Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern, OT, Projected Round: 2nd-3rd
A 6’8”/323 P4 Big Ten left tackle with 44 career starts (43 straight at LT), four-time Academic All-Big Ten honors, a 2025 team captain designation, and a confirmed Broncos pre-draft visit. Off-the-charts character and leadership profile — the kind of locker-room presence Paton historically rewards with capital. The 32 3/8” arms are short for Denver’s preferred archetype and that’s a real concern, but the height, durability, captain bonus, and active pre-draft visit interest make him a serious target if the front office decides arm length is negotiable for the right competitor.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~79)

Monroe Freeling, Georgia, OT, Projected Round: 1st-2nd
A 6’7”/315 P4 SEC bluechip with elite 34 3/4” arms and a Kolton Miller comp — one of the cleanest height + length archetype matches on the entire board. Only 18 career starts cap the production score, and a 2024 shoulder surgery is fully cleared. The exact long-armed P4 LT successor type Denver has been chasing behind Bolles, but the R1-R2 grade collides with capital reality for a team whose first pick is at #62.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~79)

Caleb Lomu, Utah, OT, Projected Round: 1st-2nd
A 6’6”/313 Utah pipeline LT with 33 3/4” arms and 24 straight starts at left tackle. Utah Leadership Council member who plays with controlled feet, smooth hip mobility, and the kind of zone-friendly mover’s game that Sean Payton’s scheme is built around. Only two years as a starter caps the production score, and the R1-R2 grade runs into capital reality, but the pipeline plus long-armed LT archetype is exactly the kind of Utah-to-Denver bet this regime has rewarded in recent classes.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~78)

Markel Bell, Miami, OT, Projected Round: 3rd-4th
A 6’9”/346 P4 ACC tackle (via JUCO) with elite 36 3/8” arms and a Senior Bowl invitation. The 6’9” height plus 36 3/8” arms is exactly the freakish-frame, max-length template Denver has historically signed and kept on its OT depth chart. Only 21 career FBS starts is a real production cap and body composition fluctuates, but the height/length combo plus Senior Bowl validation makes him a high-ceiling Day-2/3 developmental swing-tackle bet for a team that values the physical archetype above almost everything else at the position.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~78)

Spencer Fano, Utah, OT, Projected Round: 1st
A 6’5”/311 Utah pipeline tackle who brings the Outland Trophy, unanimous All-American honors, a 2025 team captain designation, and 36 career starts. Plays with relentless finish and the leadership stack Paton consistently rewards. But 32 7/8” arms and 6’5” height both miss Denver’s preferred frame archetype, and an R1 grade runs into the reality that the Broncos don’t have R1 capital. Captain plus pipeline plus Outland keep him on the radar, but the physical profile and capital math don’t line up.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~77)

Diego Pounds, Ole Miss, OT, Projected Round: 4th
A 6’6”/325 P4 SEC tackle with 33 3/4” arms, 32 career starts, a UNC-to-Ole Miss transfer path, Shrine Bowl invitation, and durable 100% LT usage. No medical flags, no character concerns, and an R4 grade right in the Day-3 sweet spot Denver has historically targeted. A long-armed LT at clean capital with the positional purity and durability the back end of this board consistently rewards.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~76)

Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M, OT, Projected Round: 4th-5th
A 6’7”/319 Texas A&M P4 SEC tackle with elite 35 3/4” arms, 28 career starts (mostly RT), and a Senior Bowl invitation. An older-rookie age (24.6) is a real knock, but the tall-and-long frame lands him squarely on the archetype Denver has built its tackle depth around. A long-term RT developmental bet at Day-3 capital.
(Tier 2, PPFS ~76)

Tier 3: Francis Mauigoa, Kadyn Proctor, Drew Shelton, J.C. Davis, Aamil Wagner, Enrique Cruz Jr., Nolan Rucci, Tristan Leigh, Fa’alili Fa’amoe

Tier 4: Alan Herron, Jayden Williams, Riley Mahlman, Gavin Ortega, James Neal III, Micah Pettus, Kahlil Benson, Chris Adams

My Analysis: I would love to see Isaiah World drafted on Day 3 by the Broncos, but there are a lot of quality matches for the Broncos here in later rounds. This should point towards them picking up a tackle on Day 3 somewhere. He won’t be ready to start Day 1, but the Broncos don’t need him to start. Get him at a discount and working his way up. But I’m a casual, so what do I know?

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PPFS (Payton/Paton Fit Score) Methodology

What it is: An empirically-derived scoring system that measures how well 2026 draft prospects align with the historical drafting patterns of Sean Payton and George Paton.

6-Step Process:

1. Catalog historical drafts: 7 draft classes (2020-2025) analyzed. Joint Payton/Paton Broncos picks (2023-2025) weighted 3x; individual pre-partnership classes weighted 1x.
2. Research player profiles: Pull pre-draft scouting reports for every historical pick to capture what scouts said at draft time.
3. Extract tendencies across 8 dimensions:
   • Physical thresholds (size per position)
   • Athletic testing (40, 3-cone, broad jump, etc.)
   • Production profile (starts, snaps, PFF grades, dominator rating)
   • School/conference preferences
   • Experience level (age, years starting)
   • Injury history
   • Character profile (captains, culture fit)
   • Archetype tells (position-specific patterns)
4. Derive the rubric from the data: Weights come from what Payton/Paton actually picked, not assumed importance.
5. Score 2026 prospects against the position-specific rubric (0-100 scale).
6. Group into tiers: Tier 1 through Tier 4 based on PPFS scores.

Two key refinements:

• Role-based assessment: Prospects scored by projected NFL role, not just raw position (e.g., situational pass-rusher vs. base-end)
• Medical sliding scale: Graduated injury severity rather than binary injured/healthy Important distinction: PPFS measures organizational fit, not absolute player quality. A great player can score low if they don’t match Payton/Paton’s documented patterns.

Roster Analysis in the PPFS Pipeline

The roster analysis sits between the historical tendency extraction (Steps 1-3) and the scoring rubric (Steps 4-5). It answers: “Given what Payton/Paton like, what does this team actually need right now?”

What it does:

• Breaks down each position group’s current players, ages, contracts, archetypes, and injury status
• Identifies complementary gaps (what’s missing) and duplication risks (what they already have)
• Assigns draft urgency per position (HIGH, MODERATE, LOW)

How it modifies scoring (two mechanisms):

1. Roster Complementary Fit dimension: A 0-10 scoring dimension where:
   • Prospect hits a proven archetype lane AND fills a roster gap = 10 pts
   • Hits a proven lane but roster-neutral = 6 pts
   • Off-type but fills a gap = 5 pts
   • Off-type and roster-neutral = 3 pts
2. Modifiers:
   • +3 bonus for filling an explicit complementary gap (e.g., complementary power RB next to Harvey’s speed)
   • Graduated duplicate penalties based on how entrenched the existing player is (e.g., drafting another speed scatback when you have three = penalty)
   • Hard gate at 60 for direct duplicates of high-investment starters

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There were quite a few first-round graded players on this list and I assumed we wouldn’t see any due to the Broncos current draft picks. However, if they show up in Tier 1 or 2 its because they fit so strongly with the PPFS scoring that even the negative points given for lack of draft capital couldn’t knock them back down into the Tier 3-4 range. I found that interesting and its too bad they can’t get one of those guys anyway!

Who would you hope the Broncos draft from this big board?