The Denver Broncos offensive line is in a good state. It’s probably the best it’s been in a decade. So that gives the Broncos some options pertaining how to handle the future of this group. In this profile let’s take a look at a potential replacement for Garett Bolles when he retires in a handful (I'm assuming) years or if the Broncos need to reevaluate the right tackle spot in a year or two.
Let’s talk about a physical freak from Rutgers, offensive Tackle Hollin Pierce.
Player Profile
Hollin Pierce | Offensive Tackle | Rutgers
Height: 6-8
Weight: 341 pounds
40-time: 5.42 seconds
Arm Length: 36 inches
Wingspan: 86 5/8
Hand Size: 9 7/8 inches
Pierce was the 6th-highest graded offensive tackle last year per PFF and was dominant at the left tackle spot. He is a physical specimen and boasts the second-longest wingspan of any tackle prospect since 1999. He has massive hands, massive arms, and his lower body appears to be strong enough to push a bus full of defensive linemen. He is packed full of potential.
Film Room
Hollin Pierce is an underrated player I’ve had my eye on all draft season who has been proving himself at the Shrine Bowl
He’s 6’8, 342lbs w/ the third longest arms EVER recorded (36 5/8”).
He’s a former walk-on who started 50 games at Rutgers. His potential is SKY HIGH pic.twitter.com/3XFshUveVl
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 27, 2025
Scouting report
Strengths
Rare height and weight
Hardly commits penalties (four in 3,1772 snaps)
Loves to demolish defenders in the run game
Played both right and left tackle
Good hand placement/ target selection on run blocks
Weaknesses
Lacks an ability to respond to a counter in pass protection
Lacks speed and agility relative to the defensive ends he faces
Poor hand placement in pass protection
Lacks inside recovery speed in pass protection
Does it make sense for the Broncos to draft Rutgers offensive tackle Hollin Pierce?
Depending on what round Pierce is taken in, the Broncos should absolutely target him. Most draft projections have him as a day two pick, usually in the third round. NFLDraftBuzz.com has Pierce listed as the 15th ranked offensive tackle and the 20th ranked offensive linemen in the draft. If he is taken where he is projected to, then I don’t think it makes sense for the Broncos to draft him. The first two days should be dedicated to offensive skill positions. But if Pierce falls to the 4th round or later, then this would be a steal for Denver.
Pierce very well could be a starter on a handful of teams as a rookie. But with Denver he’d be able to develop for at least a couple of seasons and I think offensive line coach Zach Strief can make Pierce into a Pro-Bowl level player quickly. This prospect is essentially an offensive line coach’s dream. He has the intangibles, the tangibles, and what he doesn’t currently have can be coached up. Pierce would be a perfect project to develop for a couple of seasons and put him on the line as soon as the Broncos move on from Bolles or Mike McGlinchey (or they move on from the Broncos). I would be elated if Pierce ends up in the blue and orange.
Poll
Should the Broncos target offensive tackle Hollin Pierce?
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