![\"Quinn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2234171470-e1783878735355.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Denver Broncos offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz. <\/p>\n
The Denver Broncos<\/a> have a once-in-a-lifetime player in guard Quinn Meinerz<\/a> \u2014 an NCAA Division III standout who has become a legitimate NFL superstar.<\/p>\n Meinerz\u2019s rise to becoming an elite NFL offensive lineman got its latest chapter on Sunday when he made a massive leap in ESPN\u2019s annual preseason position rankings<\/a>, \u2014 up 4 spots to No. 4 in this year\u2019s Top 10.<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys<\/a> guard Tyler Smith<\/a> took the top spot for the 1st time.<\/p>\n The rankings are voted on by a group of anonymous NFL<\/a> executives, coaches, and scouts, with 1 NFL coordinator calling Meinerz a \u201cmauler in the run game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMeinerz belongs in the elite category after another consistent season as the anchor of Denver\u2019s interior attack,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Fowler wrote. \u201cHis 75.7% run block win rate ranks seventh among guards. And he has become a more complete player in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n Meinerz \u2014 nicknamed \u201cThe Belly\u201d or \u201cThe Gut\u201d \u2014 seemed to acknowledge the accomplishment in his own, unique way on his official Instagram account, sharing a post from the 90s Era Nostalgia account<\/a> featuring a pic from the cult classic 1998 film \u201cSmall Soldiers\u201d of the movie\u2019s hero, Archer, the leader of the Monster-like Gorgonites who bears<\/a> a striking resemblance to Meinerz.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s kids will never know who the leader of the Gorgonites is,\u201d 90s Eras Nostalgia wrote on the post Meinerz shared on his account.<\/p>\n Meinerz Set Up For Another Massive Payday<\/p>\n The Broncos signed Meinerz, 27, to a 4-year, $74 million contract extension before the 2024 season \u2014 which means he\u2019s in line to land another massive payday before he turns 30 years old.<\/p>\n Meinerz\u2019s current contract runs through the end of the 2028 season, which means the Broncos could very well start sniffing around to see if he\u2019s ready to re-up when he\u2019s 29, after the 2027 season. That deal could very well be in the range of the extension the Cowboys signed Smith to \u2014 a 4-year, $96 million deal signed before the 2025 season.<\/p>\n From NCAA Division III To NFL Superstar<\/p>\n Meinerz, 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, took an unusual path to the NFL.<\/p>\n He played two seasons at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2018 and 2019 but didn\u2019t play in 2020 after all Division III seasons were canceled due to the pandemic. That didn\u2019t stop him from being drafted by the Broncos in the 3rd round (No. 98 overall) of the 2021 NFL draft<\/a>\u00a0after blowing scouts away at the Senior Bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cThe darling of this year\u2019s Senior Bowl, Meinerz has broken through and onto NFL draft boards despite moving up from Division III and having no 2020 tape,\u201d NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote<\/a> in 2021. \u201cHe flashed at times in 2019, but his tape was nothing like what we saw against upgraded competition across from him at the Senior Bowl. His hands have improved greatly and his movement appears to be much more efficient and powerful. The step up to NFL competition will require an adjustment period as a full-time move to center likely awaits him. He has the ability to move and finish drive blocks and his pass protection is clearly improving. He has the strength and demeanor to become an impactful starter in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n Meinerz played his way into a starting role as a rookie in 2021, taking over at right guard in Week 9. He started all 13 games he played in 2022 and has started every game for the Broncos since 2023, with 54 consecutive regular-season starts and consecutive NFL All-Pro seasons in 2024 and 2025 as the Broncos have become 1 of the AFC\u2019s top teams.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTony Adame<\/a> covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t