Broncos met with Purdue offensive linemen Marcus Mbow at the Combine

Mbow is a talented offensive linemen who could shift inside to center for the Broncos

Offensive line isn’t viewed as a major need for the Broncos this offseason, but head coach Sean Payton will always be looking to improve that unit. The one weak spot along the offensive line last year for the team was the center position. While Luke Wattenberg played alright, the team could be looking to improve or add competition this offseason. Well, they had a formal interview with Purdue offensive linemen Marcus Mbow who profiles as a center and could improve the Broncos offensive line moving forward.

Mbow is an athletic lineman who will be transitioning from tackle to interior offensive line and could play center for the Broncos. He mentioned how teams asked him about playing center and I would imagine the Broncos were one of those teams. He is not the biggest lineman nor the strongest, but his athleticism, intelligence and motor make up for it.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares Mbow to former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Ali Marpet and says his smarts and athleticism should help upgrade an offensive line-needy team.

What Mbow lacks in desired size and mass, he makes up for with athleticism, hustle and elite instincts. He is likely to head back home to guard after two years manning right tackle for Purdue. He’s a free-flowing athlete with the ability to create chunk-run opportunities with blocks on the second level or in space, but he’s also willing to swap paint with aggressive first contact. His tendency to let his hands drift outside and a lack of mass could be early stumbling blocks in both blocking phases. Mbow’s smarts and athleticism should help upgrade an offensive line-needy team that utilizes a move-blocking scheme.

Sean Payton invests heavily in the offensive line so it would not be a surprise if he spent an early round pick on a lineman he likes. It’s not the biggest need right now, but they could upgrade at center and that is where I believe Mbow could play for them. As I said, Wattenberg played well but struggled at times in pass protection and in the run game.

I view Mbow as a day two prospect and someone the Broncos could target if they want to upgrade the center position. With them likely putting an emphasis on improving the run game, improving the offensive line even more could be a priority for them and will be something to watch during the free agency and the draft.