The Denver Broncos offensive line is undoubtedly still a work in progress, even with the new addition of Jared Veldheer, who’s coming off of a down year.

With the 2018 NFL Draft quickly approaching, we’re getting into the Broncos options on the offensive line. Given the Broncos’ issues across the line, we’re doing a two-part preview, divided by options on the interior, meaning guards and centers, and will have the tackles available shortly as well.

We’ve already addressed the need areas at quarterback, running back, receivers and tight ends, and inside linebacker, so click on those links if you need to get caught up.

Without further ado, let’s get into the options for the Broncos on the interior offensive line, a loaded position that graded out quite highly for us in our most recent position rankings.

Options at five

Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

We broke down Nelson extensively here. He’s a fairly clean prospect who has some very intriguing traits like his power, ability to get out on pull blocks, and anchor in pass protection. All high-level traits that a top end guard must possess.

There are also a few questions regarding his true athleticism, particularly his ability to block on the move and his skill in handling elite athletes in one-on-one situations.

His evaluation’s been really interesting this offseason, as some have overrated him. However, he is the only true candidate in the trenches to be taken by the Broncos at five.

Trade down options

With the Broncos admittedly open to trading down from their fifth pick, we must consider a few options later on in the first round. Here’s the best candidate.

James Daniels, OC, Iowa

Daniels declared somewhat unexpectedly and then burst onto the draft world once people started digging into his tape. The young center is an absurdly talented athlete who just moves people out the way at center and gets to the second level at will. 

A talent like his at center doesn’t come along very often, and he should easily go in the mid to late first round. If the Broncos were to trade down, Daniels would be a great target, and could even play at guard in a more zone-heavy system, where his athleticism would shine. 

Hoping they drop to 40

Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

We featured Hernandez early in the college football season as a name to know in draft circles. He then impressed us all at the Senior Bowl and put up unexpected numbers at the combine, proving to be more athletic than anticipated.

The big bruising guard was a high-end recruit who went the small school route due to some academic issues, picking UTEP in the process, where new Broncos offensive line coach Sean Kugler was the head man.

After coaching him at the Senior Bowl, and having Kugler’s insights, no other team knows Hernandez as well as Denver. The problem is his stock has risen in the draft process, and he’s a strong candidate to go at the end of round one now.

If he’s still around by pick 40, or even earlier in the second round, the Broncos would be wise to move and get him. Hernandez is simply a tone-setter on the offensive line, who would upgrade the run blocking and add some nastiness opposite Ronald Leary. Like Daniels, Herandez would be a trade-down option as well, if Denver were to end up with Buffalo’s 22nd pick in the first round. 

Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

Wynn was Georgia’s left tackle this past season and a true grinder for the Dawgs supreme run game. Maybe more important, he was very efficient in pass protection, too. Though it’s not a popular opinion, I believe he showed enough to be considered at tackle as a pro.

Wynn isn’t the tallest, though, which is why he’s more likely to get moved inside at guard, where his power and mobility will serve him well, allowing him to be a high-end starter at right guard in the NFL.

He too would be a steal at pick 40, if for some reason he were to drop into the Broncos lap. Like Herandez, he’s got a good chance of going as high as the late first round. 

Day-two options

Billy Price, OC/G, Ohio State

Price might’ve been in the group above if not for a pectoral tear that he suffered in Indy while performing the bench press. He isn’t the athlete some of the other linemen on this list are and is lacking the momentum going into the process that others above him have.

That said, he’s got some great versatility and is a tough son of a gun. He’s been a stable figure on the Buckeyes line for several years now. He’s a grinder, battles in pass protection and can move people in the passing game. He might not be the sexiest pick at 40, but he’ll be a reliable starter at center or guard for many years.

Frank Ragnow, OC/G, Arkansas

Don’t sleep on Ragnow, who missed the second half of his final season at Arkansas and is a bit of a forgotten man. He possesses great size and has played both guard and center at an All-SEC level. Ragnow plays with great leverage and can really move people in the run game. The Hogs’ leader on offense is also a very reliable pass protector. 

He’d be a great pick, particularly in the early third round if he were to drop.

Braden Smith, OG, Auburn

Smith came into the season with some pretty high expectations and has since lost a bit of shine from his initial draft evaluation, where he seemed like a potential top-50 pick.

While the top 50 is too rich now, he has the size of a tackle and likes to bulldoze people in the run game. Smith also showed good athleticism at the combine, which makes him that much more intriguing. He’d be a perfect right guard who can handle one-on-one blocking duties in the passing game, and can also be put on the move to blow over defenders against the run.

Smith has a strong anchor and plays with good balance; he’ll also show nice power as an in-line blocker. He’s too rich for pick 40 but might not last until the early third; he could be worth moving up to go get into the late second round.

Austin Corbett, OT/C, Nevada

Corbett is a great story as he walked on at Nevada and became an all-conference selection as the Wolfpacks left tackle. He’s an underrated prospect, but very promising if moved inside to play guard. 

As a tackle, Corbett was actually really sound, he’s just not an elite athlete and doesn’t possess great length, so he profiles best inside. He won’t blow you away with his power, but he’s just sound in everything, he shows good lateral mobility and is really efficient in pass protection. He plays with good leverage in the run game and will move people around. He’s also a good enough athlete to be put on the move on pull blocks, where he’s efficient as well.

He’d be a great pick in the early third round. 

Day-three finds

Mason Cole, OT/C, Michigan

Cole was moved from center to left tackle this season, where he looked out of position even if, for the most part, he held his own. He’s not a spectacular athlete but is sound, plays with good technique and his versatility’s intriguing. He has a high IQ and can easily become an NFL starter for many years, even if he doesn’t turn into a Pro Bowler.

K.C. McDermott, OT/G, Miami

McDermott’s another collegiate left tackle who’ll have to convert to guard in the pros due to his lack of athletic tools or length for the position. Regardless of that, he’s a solid player who can handle himself in pass protection, particularly if moved inside. In the run game, he won’t blow you over, but he can open up holes by taking good angles, and had a really good season this past year. 

Bradley Bozeman, OC, Alabama

Bozeman was surprisingly a combine snub, and could drop in the draft despite some fairly impressive tape. He has great size for a center and was a really talented run blocker for Bama, getting to the second level and opening up lots of holes. 

The big reason Bozeman, who’s been a backup guard as well at Alabama, isn’t regarded very highly, is a lack of athleticism. However, his tape is that of a potential future starter, so don’t sleep on him.