Nathaniel Hackett hints at a big piece of the Broncos’ offensive line coming together

The belly is back. And it’ll likely be bigger than ever in 2022.

The belly, of course, belongs to Denver Broncos’ second-year guard Quinn Meinerz.

During the draft process in 2021, Meinerz received national attention for knocking over dead trees in his unique pre-draft workout videos—which Nathaniel Hackett “loved”—and for literally letting his belly hang out of his jersey. In fact, Meinerz even made “Belly of the Beast” shirts, which benefited a young girl fighting a rare disease back in his hometown.

However, once Meinerz got to Denver, he quickly discontinued the shirt and put the belly away, for the time being.

“I’m a rookie first of all and second of all, I’m a professional and not going out and lookin for attention,” Meinerz said in November about not wanting his belly to be a distraction. “I want to lay low, earn my stripes and earn my place in the National Football League.”

Last season, Meinerz hinted that maybe he’ll bring a belly shirt back sometime in the future, when he earns a role in the NFL.

That time, at least when it comes to earning a role, appears to be now.

“I think Quinn, sky’s the limit for him right now. He’s a guy, didn’t play the whole season, kind jumped in there toward the end. Really like what he does,” Hackett stated at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Monday morning. “I know he’s working out hard right now. I think that he’s going to be a really good right guard for us.”

While Hackett didn’t officially name the 6-foot-3, 320-pound guard the team’s starting right guard, he certainly implied that was going to be the case. But this isn’t a surprise after the way Meinerz impressed at the back end of his rookie year.

After Graham Glasgow suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9, Meinerz took over Denver’s starting right guard spot and never looked back. In his eight starts to finish the season, Meinerz established himself as a core member of the Broncos’ offensive line with his non-stop effort, specifically in the running game.

But during free agency, George Paton brought in competition across the entire offensive line by signing versatile linemen Billy Turner, Tom Compton and Ben Braden.

On Monday, however, Hackett’s endorsement of Meinerz strongly suggested any competition at right guard will be for the backup spot.

Additionally, Meinerz, and the entire offensive line, will have to learn and adapt to a new system with Hackett’s outsize zone scheme.

That won’t be an issue for Meinerz.

“Oh yeah! Oh yeah,” Hackett said enthusiastically, when asked if he likes Meinerz fit in his system. “He can run off the ball. Very strong, very excited for him.”

On the surface, the strong and powerful guard is a perfect fit for Hackett’s new offense, specifically in the running game where he excelled during his rookie season.

With Turner and Compton likely competing for the starting right tackle position with Calvin Anderson, that leaves Braden and Glasgow competing for the backup right guard spot, or, perhaps, for a different starting spot along the offensive line.

Glasgow will likely push Lloyd Cushenberry for the starting center spot and could have a chance to take over left guard in place of Dalton Risner too.

Those positions will begin to come together once Denver’s offseason workout program begins on April 11.

It appears, however, Quinn Meinerz can call right guard home. After earning a role in the NFL, Meinerz can now let the belly breath again.