2021 NFL Draft grades: Denver Broncos punt on quarterbacks

Denver Broncos 2021 third-round picks

3 (98): Quinn Meinerz, IOL, Wisconsin-Whitewater

The Denver Broncos have slowly but surely been assembling a talented, mostly home-grown offensive line over the past few years.

Mike Munchak was brought in in the 2019 offseason for a head coaching interview and wound up accepting the offensive line coach position.

Since that time, Munchak has helped turn around the career of former first-round pick Garett Bolles and he’s gotten a number of top-100 picks to work with including 2019 second-round pick Dalton Risner, 2020 third-round pick Lloyd Cushenberry III, and now 2021 third-round pick Quinn Meinerz.

Meinerz is a small-school product with a huge personality and a rare athletic profile for his position group. The upside here is huge but where does Meinerz fit? The Broncos have no fewer than five guys who could possibly start on the interior offensive line and only three spots.

Grade: B

3 (105): Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State

If you’ve been following the 2021 NFL Draft evaluation process from the very start, this selection should come as quite the shock.

Not because the Denver Broncos reached, but because Browning was still available.

Another unicorn athlete at his position group, Browning showed tremendous upside as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher, and he could find a home at either spot with the Denver Broncos.

Going into Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme, which has historically been great for linebackers, Browning could become an absolute star.

I don’t think anyone would have been shocked if Browning had gone to the Broncos in the second round.

Grade: A+