ESPN's Matt Miller makes the perfect third round pick for the Broncos
The Denver Broncos need more depth at a few positions, but none more than this one ESPN analyst thinks, as he has the Broncos making their second pick overall on a guy for the offensive line. The Denver Broncos have had more offensive line trouble than almost anyone. Either their line gets hurt, or they […]
The Denver Broncos need more depth at a few positions, but none more than this one ESPN analyst thinks, as he has the Broncos making their second pick overall on a guy for the offensive line.
The Denver Broncos have had more offensive line trouble than almost anyone. Either their line gets hurt, or they just suck. Both happened last year, as they allowed Russell Wilson to be sacked 55 times, which was not only a franchise record, but first in the league.
They need depth, and guys that can develop into something special. Matt Miller of ESPN has the Broncos doing that at pick 68 after getting 67 wrong. His pick, picking the Broncos' second pick of the draft, was perfect if you ask me.
Chandler Zavala, G, NC State
A 6-3, 322-pound powerhouse, Zavala gives the Broncos youth on the interior offensive line. He started 12 games as a left guard in 2022 and earned first-team All-ACC honors. And he can push veteran Ben Powers for starting snaps.
-Matt Miller, ESPN
As the guard position currently stands, they have Ben Powers and Will Sherman both at left tackle. At right tackle, they just have Quinn Meinerz. That's it. So yeah. They need a guy who can play right tackle. Zavala seems to be a guy that can be that for the Broncos and could even see himself starting as Meinerz missed a lot of last season due to injuries. The pick is a safe one for sure.
Here is what NFL.com thinks of Zavala, the guy Miller thinks the Broncos will take with their second pick in the draft:
Zavala signed with Division II Fairmont State from Forest Park High School in Virginia. He played three games in 2017, redshirting after missing time with a knee injury. Zavala was just 260 pounds when arriving on campus but gained 60 pounds between his freshman and sophomore seasons. He garnered first-team All-Mountain East Conference honors the next two seasons, starting 21 games at left guard during that span. FSU did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. Zavala signed with North Carolina State out of the transfer portal, earning the starting left guard spot for the first five games of 2021 before being sidelined with a back injury. The NCAA initially denied his request for an additional year of eligibility but reversed its decision due to additional information about the knee injury he suffered his freshman year. Zavala took advantage of the extra year, starting 12 games at left guard to earn first-team All-ACC accolades. — by Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Just by reading his measurables, you can probably tell he has to play guard too, which means he isn't flexible to play tackle. But, luckily for the Broncos, they just spent a ton of money on Mike McGlinchey and have Garrett Bowles on the other side. This pick was perfect.
