The second week of the college football season is already upon is. Last week for the initial installment of Future Broncos, I focused on the team’s selections in the 2026 NFL Draft and what I believe are the team’s biggest positions of needs. The first position group I had listed was the offensive line, so I thought it would be apt to discuss three different prospects at three different positions for Broncos Country to keep an eye on as this year’s collegiate season rolls on.
Conner Lew — Center — Auburn
It’s not often that a center makes their way into the first round of the NFL Draft. However, Auburn standout and All-SEC offensive lineman Connor Lew has a great shot of being one that does. The 6’3”, 303-pounder secured the Tigers’ starting position at the pivot midway through his freshman season and never looked back. Now entering his third year as a starter, Lew is a favorite to be this year’s Rimington Trophy winner and showcases NFL ready talent despite being an underclassman.
His high impact and efficiency as both pass protector and run blocker will make him a highly coveted prospect if he declares for next year’s draft. Hugh Freeze, his collegiate head coach, has often lauded his intelligence and command at the line of scrimmage. With the Broncos’ offense poised to embrace more zone principles this year, Lew’s movement skills and ability to land blocks on the second level make him an idea fit for Denver’s revamped rushing attack.
During Head Coach Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans, he and General Manager Mickey Loomis utilized several high picks on collegiate centers to upgrade their interior offensive line. Those would be Cesar Ruiz in the first round (2020) and Erik McCoy in the second round (2019). With Luke Wattenberg in the final year of his rookie deal, the Broncos may be in the market for a replacement at the position if Wattenberg heads elsewhere in free agency.
Drafting a center in the first round might not be ideal for most fans. However, it’s clear the Broncos’ current regime believe in fortifying their trenches. That’s all the more reason why to keep your eye on Lew and have him on your draft board for 2026. Count me in as one of many who believe he can start Day 1 as a rookie and significantly improve the long-term stability of Denver’s offensive line.
Chase Bisontis — Offensive Guard — Texas A&M
While Lew has impressed during his collegiate career, another SEC lineman has also made some noise over the past few seasons. That would be Texas A&M prospect Chase Bisontis. Seeing time at both right guard and right tackle, Bisontis was a thirteen-game starter for the Aggies in 2023. Last season, he made the switch to the other side of the line and was a 10-game starter for them at left guard.
At 6’6 and 320 pounds, the former Top 100 recruit fits the bill of what NFL talent evaluators covet in offensive lineman. He is a road grader in the run game—that’s his calling card—and would certainly bolster the Broncos’ rushing attack. From an early glance, he does need some work in pass protection, especially with respect to opposing defensive tackles getting pressure on interior moves. Though I’d still consider his abilities at this stage in his development to be above-average relative to his peers.
If Bisontis is able to be consistent throughout the season, he could be one of the first interior offensive lineman picked this year. In fact, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he was an early Day 2 selection. The Aggies also have two other quality prospects that are draft eligible in left tackle Trey Zuhn III and right guard Ar’mah Reed-Adams—who are also worth keeping an eye on.
As I wrote in the first installment of Future Broncos, I could see a path where the Broncos opt to move on from Ben Powers at the end of the season. If so, you can certainly chalk up left guard as one of the biggest future needs for the team. I like Bisontis’ fit for the team and his ability to play both guard and tackle have him pegged high on my board early on to start the year.
Isaiah World — Offensive Tackle — Oregon
Longtime left tackle Garett Bolles and veteran Mike McGlinchey are a quality tackle duo. While the Broncos to have several developmental offensive linemen in the mix, it’s been a long time (2017) since they have utilized early draft capital on tackle. While I believe an upgrade at center or left guard seems more likely, it’s worth discussing a prospect that has enormous upside at the position.
This year’s group of tackles is getting rave reviews early on, with potentially eight to ten prospects likely to hear their names called in the Top 64 picks next April. One player who is receiving a lot of early season hype is Oregon left tackle Isaiah World. After spending his first four seasons at Nevada, the former Mountain West standout and redshirt senior is set to take on the advanced rigors and talent of the B1G Conference.
At 6’8 and 312 pounds, World’s size immediately stands out on tape. A 35-game starter for the Wolfpack, he saw most snaps at right tackle in his redshirt freshman season. Though in 2023 and 2024, he manned down left tackle and became a blindside protector for their offense. Last season, he showed a lot of growth as a pass protector and also made strides as a run blocker.
While he has a way to go rounding out his technique and becoming more consistent—scouts and evaluators across the league will be enamored with his tools and experience. He checks the boxes for the traits you can’t teach. World’s performance with the Ducks this year will play a big role in where he ultimately gets drafted, but I think it’s probably to assume he is a safe bet to go in the Top 50 based on his skill set and performance to date.
