Anonymous NFL evaluators name Denver Broncos’ $74 million guard among league’s best interior offensive linemen
The Denver Broncos have one of the NFL’s best interior offensive linemen in Quinn Meinerz. He’s come a long way from knocking trees over after D-III Wisconsin-Whitewater had its season canceled in 2020.
The Denver Broncos built their offense’s strength in the trenches, and no player embodies that identity better than guard Quinn Meinerz.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to rank the top 10 interior offensive linemen in the league, and Meinerz landed at No. 4 overall. The 27-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier guards after signing a four-year, $74 million contract extension before the 2024 season.
Meinerz played 1,109 offensive snaps during the 2025 NFL season, finishing first among 81 qualified guards with a 90.9 overall PFF grade. His run-blocking grade of 92.1 also ranked first at the position, while his pass-blocking grade ranked 20th. He allowed 25 total pressures in pass protection with two sacks and five quarterback hits. He was flagged by the NFL for just three penalties throughout the season.
Denver Broncos’ Projected Starting O-Line for 2026
The Broncos added Boise State OL Kage Casey in the 2026 NFL Draft. Yet, their projected starting lineup on the offensive line looks like this:
- LT Garrett Bolles
- LG Ben Powers
- C Luke Wattenberg
- RG Quinn Meinerz
- RT Mike McGlinchey
From Division III to All-Pro
Meinerz took a unique path to the NFL. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, he played two seasons for NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2018 and 2019. He didn’t play in 2020 after all Division III seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That didn’t stop the Broncos from selecting him in Round 3, No. 98 overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft. Meinerz trained creatively during his year off, catching attention with some viral workout videos. That earned him an opportunity to turn the heads of NFL scouts at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and Denver saw enough to invest a Day 2 pick in a small-school prospect.
The investment paid off almost immediately. Meinerz became a starter as a rookie, taking over the right guard position in Week 9 of the 2021 season. He started all 13 games in 2022 and has not surrendered his starting role since, stringing together 54 consecutive regular-season starts dating back to that Week 9 debut.
A road grader with staying power
Meinerz has evolved into a force in the middle of Denver’s offensive line. He’s a road grader in the run game while remaining extremely serviceable in pass protection.
“Mauler in the run game at the point of attack, good at the second level getting to linebackers and solid in one-on-one pass pro,” an NFL coordinator said, via ESPN.
The Broncos named him to the 2025 Pro Bowl, though he did not attend. He earned first-team All-Pro selection and was a finalist for the inaugural NFL Protector of the Year Award, presented to the league’s best offensive lineman. Those honors came on the heels of a 2024 All-Pro nod, giving Meinerz consecutive All-Pro seasons.
“I know he was known for the gut and for run blocking, but he’s become more of a complete player,” an NFL personnel executive said, via ESPN. “He belongs in the top group. Much better in pass pro, occasional lapse where he’s overly physical and misses, but he’s generally more in control.”
His dominance has been a significant reason why Denver was one of the AFC’s top teams in 2025. For a franchise that wants to establish the run, Meinerz is the foundational piece on the interior. The 2021 draft pick is in line to land another massive payday with the Broncos before he turns 30, and given his trajectory, he’ll have earned every dollar.
The league’s evaluators have taken notice, and it’s easy to see why. Meinerz’s combination of elite run blocking, reliable pass protection, and durability makes him one of the most valuable guards in football. The Broncos would be wise to continue building their offense around players like Meinerz.