Bleacher Report picks Erik Austell as Broncos top UDFA
The Denver Broncos usually are able to find a gem or two on the undrafted free agent heap. This year, B/R predicted it would be OL Erik Austell…
The Denver Broncos have a rich history of undrafted players that have defeated the odds stacked against them and had successful NFL careers. Could offensive lineman Erik Austell be the next one to make his mark on Denver’s legacy?
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski wrote on each team’s best undrafted free agent signing, and said the offensive lineman from Charleston Southern was John Elway’s biggest haul. Here’s some analysis of Austell as a prospect from Sobleski’s piece:
"The 6’3″, 301-pound blocker has the feet necessary to play on the blind side but lacks the preferred length to play the position with only 32″ arms. As such, he’ll move inside, where he can take advantage of his natural athleticism. Austell isn’t the most powerful lineman at the point of attack. But he can succeed as a position blocker by using his natural quickness and movement skills."
On the surface, there’s nothing overly impressive about Austell. He has pretty average measurables for a lineman, and like Sobleski said, he has short arms for a tackle and will need to move inside. However, with his movement skills and footwork, a move to guard could be very beneficial for him and allow him to have success in an offense that specializes in getting rid of the ball quickly in the passing game.
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Austell is also capable of using his foot quickness and upper body strength to really excel in the running game. The Broncos certainly can’t claim they have a ‘set’ group on the offensive line, especially when it comes to the backup positions. If Austell can prove in camp that he can provide depth at all five positions up front, there could be home for him long-term in Denver.
At worst, it sounds like this is the type of player who will stick on the practice squad and perhaps compete for a more significant job a year down the line. The Broncos have also had a long history of success in their player development department, so a year on the practice squad wouldn’t be the worst situation for him.
NFL.com graded Austell as a potential 5th-7th round pick, so the Broncos also found a really nice value here on the undrafted market.