Broncos Roster: Predicting Each Interior OL's Odds of Making it

Every NFL team has those players that are guaranteed to make the roster. They're the easiest ones to project onto the 53-man roster, and even a team that went 5-12 the year before, like the Denver Broncos, has them.

The Broncos want to be a run-heavy team, but they need their interior offensive line to hold up. While the starting unit looks improved on paper, the O-line overall is still a concern. 

There isn't much depth along the interior, and the Broncos have serious questions about one of their projected starters. The unit is replete with unproven depth, a questionable projected starter, and another solid starter who needs to take a step forward. Hopefully, the O-line can stay healthy and not be forced to turn into its depth. 

As I break down this position, players will be placed into three tiers reflecting their chances of making the roster. Here's a quick explanation of the three tiers that reflect the different percentage ranges that each player will fall into.

Let's examine how the odds shape up for the Broncos' interior offensive line. 

Tier 1: 70-100%

Ben Powers (OG) | Quinn Meinerz (OG) | Lloyd Cushenberry III (OC)

Powers got signed to a huge deal, so he is 100% safe to make the roster. There have been some questions about how good he is, but Denver should walk out extremely happy with this signing if he can stay healthy. For the 2022 season, he was the only Baltimore Ravens to play 100% snaps on offense, but he has missed time in previous seasons. He allowed one sack, and 13 pressures, with only two penalties (one accepted) called against him. 

Opposite Powers, the Broncos have Meinerz, who is still full of potential but must put all the pieces together. Meinerz was up and down in 2022, and an injury didn't help. Denver needs him to continue his development and take the next step forward and cement himself as a long-term starter. 

The team upgraded the guard position. Among 54 guards who played at least 50% of 1,350 snaps, Pro Football Focus had Powers as the second-highest grade, with Meinerz ranked No. 20 in pass blocking. In total pressures allowed, Powers was No. 3, and Meinerz was No. 8. 

In run blocking, the grade was not as favorable to Powers, with PFF ranking him No. 46, with Meinerz No. 4. When watching Powers, he did quite well as a run blocker, which leads to questions about PFF's grade, and the same is true for Meinerz with his pass protection grade. 

That brings us to Cushenberry, the projected starter at center. Sean Payton had a less-than-reassuring tone when he mentioned Cushenberry being the starter (for now). Cushenberry has struggled for multiple years in a row, and out of 34 centers who played at least 500 snaps, he ranked 31st in run-blocking. 

His numbers were better in protection, being tied for No. 13 in best pass-blocking grade and allowing the second-fewest pressures. However, Cushenberry also had one of the lowest rates on single blocks among centers. He got a lot of help over the last couple of years, and he still struggles. 

A Broncos offense that will be run-heavy must see significant improvement from the center position. Multiple runs in 2022 broke down because of the failures at the center position, and the running game improved after Cushenberry was sidelined. 

Tier 2: 40-69%

Alex Forsyth (OC) | Kyle Fuller (OC) 

There is a lot of love among fans for both of the Broncos' backup centers, and they also have some versatility to play guard. That would be a bonus, as not s single guard option is in this tier. 

Both of these centers also sit about 50% within the tier. This seems to be the main competition for the backup center role, with either of them having a chance to win the starting job. 

If either is to win the starting job, Forsyth or Fuller will have a tough road ahead of them. Cushenberry isn't great, but he has plenty of experience, which is especially an advantage over the rookie Forsyth. With their versatility to play guard, there is a chance both of these players make the roster, but it comes down to a numbers game with the rest of the unit. 

READ: Broncos Roster Prediction: Revealing Each QB's Odds of Making it

Tier 3: 0-39%

Henry Byrd OG) | Will Sherman (OG) | Luke Wattenberg (OC) 

Teams typically carry nine or 10 offensive linemen, and with how the tackle position looks and their starters inside, the Broncos seem to be sitting about seven or eight players. One of these three players may make it, but there are a lot of questions when it comes to who. 

Byrd is an undrafted rookie, with Wattenberg entering Year 2 and Sherman entering Year 3. This is somewhere the Broncos could look to add another veteran during training camp to round out the depth along the interior because not a single one of these players is inspiring. It also opens the door for both Forsyth and Fuller to make it with their positional versatility. 

If both Forsyth and Fuller make it, that would put the Broncos are nine players, but that wouldn't close the door on a veteran who can play both sides of the line. The Broncos have options to improve the depth on the inside. 

Wattenberg didn't do well as a rookie and was a pick of a failed coaching staff, with his position coach being one of the three fired before the season was over. He saw reps at all three spots on the interior, including a start at left guard, and he didn't look like he belonged on the field. Maybe he can take a step forward. 

There isn't much there with Byrd, maybe he can show enough to last on the practice squad, but he seems to have a low chance of making it on the roster. Sherman has been with two teams over his two years, spending time with the New England Patriots before joining the Broncos last season. Maybe he finally starts putting it together, but he has been a practice squad player, and this might be his last shot to make a roster. 

The Takeaway

This isn't a good position group, but the Broncos can still improve the depth. Denver needs to find a stable starter at the center position and find a veteran guard who doesn't have issues flipping sides. 

As the offense plans to be a run-heavy team, the Broncos lack depth inside, so hopefully, they don't suffer any injuries to the unit. If they do, it could be disastrous.