Broncos Prospect Profile: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

Forrest Lamp is making many transitions this offseason. Not only is he likely transitioning from tackle to guard, he’s making the jump from Conference USA to a potential first-round pick in the NFL. As a four-year starter at Western Kentucky, Lamp was a mainstay on the Hilltoppers’ blind side of the offensive line, earning All-Conference honors every year including third-team All-American his senior season.

At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Lamp started his first three collegiate games at guard before moving to tackle for the rest of his career. In the NFL, he is projected to move back inside to guard with some projecting he could potentially play tackle. Even at guard, Lamp is projected to be a board-line first-round pick.

Strengths

Like many great offensive lineman in the NFL, one of Lamp’s greatest strengths is his footwork. As a former tackle, Lamp’s sound fundamentals would make the transition to guard an easy and seamless process. Along with footwork and fundamentals, Lamp has a high football I.Q.

Additionally, if Lamp could snap the ball, he has the versatility and skill set to play every position on the offensive line. While he could play either guard position at a high level, he could fill in at either tackle position on a whim.

“There are teams that told me I’d play tackle. There are teams that told me I’d play guard. There’s teams that told me I’d play just center because of my arms,” Lamp said at the combine. “Some teams believe more in ability than just numbers. It all depends on the team…I don’t have a preference. Guard, center, tackle…I’ll play wherever I can help a team.”

Weaknesses

The reason Lamp is likely going to transition to guard in the NFL has to do with his body frame. While he has the potential to play tackle, there are questions about how much weight he will be able to put on at the next level. In high school he had to quit basketball because he couldn’t maintain a heavy enough weight needed to play offensive line.

“I ate six, seven times a day. It was a ton. I am glad I did it,” he said on how he added weight. “It included everything my family would cook, those three meals a day. But in between that, eating a peanut butter and jelly every hour. I would go to the weight room and the coach would have a fridge full of Muscle Milk for me. I’d have one of those between classes. The teachers would let me leave real quick for five minutes.”

Just as every lineman transitioning from college to the NFL, Lamp will need to add playing strength as he lacks top-end power.

How he fits in Denver

If Lamp were to end up in orange and blue, it would most likely be with the Broncos’ first-round pick. In Denver, Lamp would immediately be an upgrade at the guard position opposite Ronald Leary and could even be an upgrade as the Broncos’ starting left tackle his rookie season.

“I think I can play tackle,” he said. “Everybody says the Alabama [defensive] front, all three of those guys, are going to get drafted in the first round. So if I can block those guys, why couldn’t I block anybody?”

With the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the Broncos’ offensive line, Lamp’s versatility would be especially valuable.