Quinn Meinerz focused on himself, Broncos won’t circle foes

As the Denver Broncos rose last fall, so too did Quinn Meinerz — the team made the playoffs, and the guard was named an All-Pro.

Heading into 2025, everyone expects the team and many players to take the next step. For Meinerz, it’s not about catching any other club but being the best version of the Broncos the current group can be. It’s an interesting take as Broncos Country wants the team to take down the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West, while chasing down some of the conference’s other elite teams in Baltimore and Buffalo.

The 26-year-old explained his thought process on Thursday as training camp kicks off this week in Colorado.

“I’m not looking at any teams right now, I’m focusing on this Denver Broncos team right now that we’re trying to develop,” Meinerz shared. “There isn’t anything we’re circling anywhere on anything; that is for you guys to do. That is not what we do. This is the storylines that you guys want. We’re not taking any of that cheese. We’re here to work, and we’re here to become better, and that’s just the bottom line. A lot of people have been sleeping on us, and that’s okay. We know who we are, and that’s pretty much it.”

The former third-round pick was instrumental in Denver’s strong offensive line play last year. He and the group allowed Bo Nix to settle in as a rookie. Another year under the belt, and the hope is that the two can play off each other to take another leap forward. Meinerz is aiming to better himself even after just being named the best at what he does in the NFL.

“I’m trying to create a gap of being the best, and I can improve in all phases and continue to be more consistent,” he said. “That’s a big feedback part at the end of the season, what I like to have with my coaches. There’s still a lot I can do to improve in the run game, specifically. And you know, every single year you gotta keep sharpening pass protection, because these guys are incredible athletes out there, across the entire defensive line. And so it’s an uphill battle every single year, but I feel really great about the teammates that I have to push me to be the best as long along with our coaching staff.”

Meinerz targeted the run game a few times as an area the Broncos hope to better in 2025. The Broncos got just 1,423 yards out of their running backs last year, though Bo Nix helped the unit with 430 yards on the ground himself. This summer, it wasn’t just Meinerz focusing on the running backs, as the team’s front office took rookie RJ Harvey in the draft and signed veteran J.K. Dobbins.

Maybe a new element can help the Broncos forward, and a locked-in Meinerz can push, or pull, the club even farther in the right direction.

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