Broncos don’t have a pressing interior O-line need, but Sean Payton always values this spot

The Denver Broncos don’t have an immediate need here, but with a Sean Payton team, you NEVER take your eyes off this position group.

Denver’s long-term contract situation could create an opening in 2026. Starting center Luke Wattenberg’s contract expires after this season, and left guard Ben Powers has an affordable dead-money hit — $9.775 million — if the Broncos chose to move on from him. So, if the team determined the value was right, they could make a move here.

But the most likely call is to keep the depth pool churning.

LIKELY BRONCOS RANGE:

DAY 3

Sean Payton values interior offensive linemen and has taken a Day 3 player in this position group in each of his last two drafts — center Alex Forsyth in 2023 and guard Nick Gargiulo last year.

POTENTIAL BRONCOS FITS:

Grey Zabel, North Dakota State: If you are looking for a Broncos stunner in Round 1 that would defy all predictions, this is the name to note. Not because Zabel wouldn’t be worthy in terms of value; the 6-foot-6 Zabel is the top interior offensive lineman in the class and dominated at the Senior Bowl. He’s quick, agile and is light on his feet — which goes back to his athletic background, which includes years playing soccer, in addition to baseball and basketball.

The extra year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic gave him an additional chance to mature, so he comes to the NFL having played 62 games, including 40 starts. The truth is, he’s a potential plug-and-play starter — even though he wouldn’t be asked to do that with the Broncos.

Marcus Mbow, Purdue: The Broncos met with him at the NFL Scouting Combine, as he confirmed during his media availability there. A standout on a lousy Boilermakers team, his fluidity and athleticism comes from a basketball background; some of his strength comes from making the high-school state championships in the shot put. Although he started the last two seasons at right tackle.

Mbow is likely to move back inside, where his frame is better suited and his quickness can be used to full effect. He’s a high-ceiling player who makes sense on Day 2.

Trey Wedig, Indiana: One of the players on whom the Broncos used a 30 visit, per a KUSA-Ch. 9 report, Wedig didn’t really emerge until last season, when he became a full-time starter after transferring from Wisconsin, where he was a reserve for all but the 2022 campaign, when he started eight games. (The 2022 season was the one when current Broncos assistant coach Jim Leonhard served as the Badgers’ interim head coach.) At UW, he got lost in the shuffle as the Badgers changed schemes and philosophies in the transition from Paul Chryst to Luke Fickell.

At Indiana, he was a road grader at right tackle, although he seems a likely bet to slide inside. Wedig is more likely to come aboard as an undrafted free agent, but if the Broncos get wheeling and dealing and end up with a seventh-round choice or two, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they cut the suspense and selected Wedig right then and there.

NAMES TO KNOW:

DAY 1:

C Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
G Tyler Booker, Alabama

DAY 1/2:

G Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

DAY 2:

G Tate Ratledge, Georgia
G Marcus Mbow, Purdue
G Jonah Savaiinea, Arizona
C Jared Wilson, Georgia
G Miles Frazier, LSU
G Wyatt Milum, West Virginia

DAY 2/3:

C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
G Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
G Jalen Rivers, Miami (Fla.)

DAY 3:

C Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
C Drew Kendall, Boston College
G Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
G Emery Jones Jr., LSU
G Bryce Cabledue, Kansas
G Joe Huber, Wisconsin
C Eli Cox, Kentucky
C Jonah Monheim, USC
G Connor Colby, Iowa
G Hayden Conner, Texas
C Joshua Gray, Oregon State
G Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
C Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
G Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
G Marcus Tate, Clemson
C Jake Majors, Texas
G Garrett Dellinger, LSU

SLEEPER TO WATCH:

WILLIE LAMPKIN, NORTH CAROLINA: Undersized at 5-foot-11 and 279 pounds, he played much larger than that and was a nearly immovable object against larger defensive linemen during Senior Bowl practices. He obviously checks none of the measurables, which will take him off the lists of plenty of teams. But the film shows a uniquely tenacious and technically sound player compared to others in this class. The Broncos met with him at the Senior Bowl.

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