Broncos Draft Insight: Offensive Tackle

There’s  a lot of depth in this year’s draft. It’s not guaranteed that a QB or wide receiver is going to be this year’s #1 pick. Therefore, with the 11th pick in the draft (and possibly higher with a trade), the Denver Broncos have a lot of options, and a lot of tough decisions to make.

Through free agency, the Broncos beefed up their defensive line. I’d like to see them add some bulk to the offensive line as well to aide in the running game. We scored big in ’08 when we drafted left tackle, Ryan Clady. I truly believe he was a major player in Jay Cutler’s successful season that year.

With that said, Russell Okung (Oklahoma State), Bryan Bulaga (Iowa), or Trent Williams (Oklahoma) could still be available when the Broncos are on the clock.

Okung is a big guy at 6’5” and 307 lbs. He is a very good run blocker who makes sure to finish off his blocks. The downside is he gets caught standing up straight when facing quicker defensive ends. They tend to get under his pads and make their way around the edge. Regardless, any team is lucky to draft him. Here’s a highlight video of the tackle from Oklahoma State.

Bryan Bulaga (6’6”, 312 lbs) has Clady-like size. He’s got quick feet, and isn’t afraid to throw a block on a linebacker as the play develops. He’s best suited for a zone blocking team. His footwork isn’t that good, and some have considered moving him over to the right tackle position. A quick highlight/lowlight tape:

Finally, Trent Williams (6’5”, 306 lbs.) has the ability to handle elite speed off the edge of the line. He’s got great instincts, balance, and lateral movement. He’s not all that physical as a run blocker and isn’t a very good blocker at the higher level. He’s still expected to be drafted very high, however. Here’s the clip: