Denver Broncos’ guard Quinn Meinerz was recently ranked fifth among the top 32 guards in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. This ranking comes at a time when there have been various rankings surrounding the Broncos in the offseason, including head coach Sean Payton being ranked 16th on Touchdown Wire’s list of top head coaches and the team’s roster being ranked last by PFF. However, Meinerz’s recognition as a top-five guard should provide some relief to Broncos fans as they can trust in his ability to protect the quarterback.
Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus highlighted Meinerz’s impressive performance in the 2023 season where he played in all 17 regular-season games and earned an overall grade of 83.7, third-best among guards. Meinerz has shown improvement in his overall grade over the past two seasons and is establishing himself as one of the top guards in the league. His low pressure rate of 3.8% ranked 14th in the NFL, while his outstanding run-blocking grade of 88.7 was second in the league. Meinerz’s versatility in both run-blocking and pass protection sets him apart as a dominant force on the offensive line.
As the Broncos look ahead to the post-Russell Wilson era under Sean Payton in 2024, Meinerz will play a crucial role in protecting the new starting quarterback, whether it be Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson. With Meinerz anchoring the offensive line, the Broncos’ quarterback can have confidence in solid protection throughout the upcoming season.