Following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos signed Minot State offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez to a contract as an undrafted free agent.
The Broncos were expected to look at help at the right tackle position in the draft, due to the uncertainty within the depth on the roster at that position. Instead, the team chose not to select one in the draft and brought in two via the undrafted free-agent process.
In addition to Gutierrez, the Broncos also came to terms with Michael Niese.
Name: Sebastian Gutierrez
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 295 pounds
School: Minot State
Position: Offensive Tackle
Working against Gutierrez will be the fact that he came from such a small school and didn’t face an elite level of competition. Minot State University, located in Minot, North Dakota, is not exactly a pro football factory.
The last player to come from that school was a quarterback named Randy Hedberg, an eighth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all the way back in 1977.
Minot State was definitely not the first choice for Gutierrez, a native of Pasco, Washington. But the school did offer him the most scholarship money.
He went to the school as a tight end but when coaches noticed that he could block, he was approached about a position switch. He converted to tackle and ended up starting games at both right and left tackle for the team.
It is possible that some scouts saw Gutierrez as a guard in the NFL but for the Broncos, he is probably best suited as a tackle due to Nathaniel Hackett’s scheme.
He will face long odds of making the roster but versatile offensive linemen are always sought after in today’s league.
CHECK THIS OUT: The reaction from his friends and family after Minot State offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez announces that he is signing with the Denver Broncos!
— KX News (@KXMB) April 30, 2022
FULL STORY: https://t.co/3H7CFUgy4F pic.twitter.com/NZyS9CpI88
Chances of making the 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 1.5
It’s not likely that Gutierrez makes this team as a rookie. The Broncos have Garett Bolles entrenched as the starter on the left side and multiple decent options at right tackle including Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson and Tom Compton. Gutierrez would be looking to get in as a rotational piece but to make the roster this year, he would have to do so in place of a guy like Anderson or Compton, maybe both.
Instead, a spot on the 16-man practice squad is much more likely. Up to 20 teams visited Minot State to check in on Gutierrez last season, which shows that there is plenty of interest in what he can do.
I would look for him to have a strong chance to be on the practice squad and begin to learn this offense, which will be installed with the new coaching staff. He could absolutely be an option to work his way into a rotational position next season or in the near future.