The Denver Broncos traded down not once but twice in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and after a long wait between pick 35 and pick 98, they finally made a selection.
That selection was an absolutely epic one.
New general manager George Paton went with offense for a second consecutive pick, taking interior lineman Quinn Meinerz out of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Meinerz was the star of the 2021 Senior Bowl and has been the official NFL Draft correspondent for the popular morning show Good Morning Football on the NFL Network.
You might be wondering how a top-100 NFL prospect came out of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Quinn Meinerz’s history will tell you that it was insanely hard work.
Often done in unconventional ways in the outdoors with logs, water jugs, and Mother Nature.
Here's what the Broncos are getting in Quinn Meinerz 👀#NFLDraft | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/4XSdtfA8db
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 1, 2021
In addition to being a fascinating human being, Meinerz’s workouts are not just for Tik Tok. This dude is absolutely yoked and freakishly athletic for his position group.
Quinn Meinerz was drafted with pick 98 of round 3 in the 2021 draft class. He scored a 9.98 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 496 OC from 1987 to 2021. https://t.co/58JISGziKm #RAS #Broncos pic.twitter.com/vXvAp4dPzt
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 1, 2021
So what kind of prospect is this guy? Well, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had him ranked in the top 50 players overall.
The Broncos use the 98th pick on Wisconsin-Whitewater OL Quinn Meinerz.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) May 1, 2021
He was @MoveTheSticks' 45th-ranked prospect and was a 2019 Division III first-team All-American.
Solid depth for the team's OL.
The Denver Broncos’ top two guard positions right now are filled between left guard Dalton Risner and right guard Graham Glasgow, a big-money free agent in 2020.
In addition to Risner and Glasgow, the Denver Broncos have starting center Lloyd Cushenberry III and top reserve guard Netane Muti, two draft picks from the 2020 class that look like future starters in the league.
It makes you wonder if Meinerz, whose arm length is nearly 34 inches, could be poised to play some right tackle in the event things go south with Ja’Wuan James. It’s not out of the question considering his versatility.
With that being said, in a 17-game regular season, your depth on the offensive line is going to need to be strong. Meinerz gives you tremendous depth and upside along with a guy who is going to be tremendous for your locker room.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projects that Meinerz will be a starter within his first two seasons in the league. After his Senior Bowl, virtually nobody thought he was going to be falling out of the second round, much less nearly out of the third round.
Denver Broncos trade up for Javonte Williams in second round
The Denver Broncos traded up five spots in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft for North Carolina running back Javonte Williams.
This pick is an absolute steal for the Denver Broncos, both in terms of the player and person they are getting in Quinn Meinerz.