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Report: Broncos met virtually with Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins

Broncos showing some interest in one of the draft’s top offensive tackles.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 23 Oklahoma State at West Virginia Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

According to reports, the Denver Broncos were among the teams that met virtually with Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins. He’s among the draft's top tackles so it appears the Broncos are doing their due diligence on that position.

Jenkins is a 6-6, 310-pound offensive tackle who played his college ball at Oklahoma State. He’s considered one of the top tackles in a draft class that’s rather deep in that area. The Draft Network ranks Jenkins as their 45th best overall prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft and their 8th best offensive tackle.

Playing in 37 career games (35 starts) at Oklahoma State, Teven Jenkins experienced time at right guard, left tackle, and right tackle. With a bulk of his experience coming at right tackle, he blossomed during his final two seasons. Playing in the first eight games of the season, he elected to opt out after suffering what was reported as lower back issues. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound fifth-year senior offensive tackle is a top-heavy blocker that has experienced success in the team’s Air Raid offense. A quick setter that’s prone to take horizontal pass sets, he’s created a habit of establishing quick wins by striking his hands and controlling defenders. As a run blocker, he’s able to create considerable amounts of movement when able to gain momentum prior to engagement points. A well above average finisher, Jenkins is the type of offensive lineman that attempts to humiliate players in the opposite color jersey. The echo of the whistle doesn’t slow down his process and he continues on with his process until he wants to conclude. Jenkins’ athleticism and lack of overall range may create questions about his potential at offensive tackle and there will be some teams who grade him as a guard as a result. Jenkins will have a strong chance of being the first offensive lineman drafted from the program since Russell Okung (2010).

Meanwhile, NFL.com’s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah ranks Jenkins as his 30th best overall prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jenkins is a big, powerful right tackle. He is very quick out of his stance in the passing game and he can cover ground in a hurry. He has no issues kicking out to cover up speed rushers. However, he does have some issues when he has to quickly redirect inside, which leads to some pressures allowed. He has strong, violent hands but he will get too aggressive at times, which affects his balance. He absorbs power rushers pretty easily, though. He’s fun to watch in the run game. He can torque and dump linemen over his nose. He collects a lot of knockdowns. He has the quickness to cut off on the back side and he’s very efficient climbing to the second level. Overall, Jenkins has some balance issues to correct, but I love his size, quickness and nastiness. I view him as a quality NFL starter at right tackle.

The Broncos are potentially in the market for an offensive tackle during the draft because of the unknowns surrounding tackle Ja’Wuan James. As we know, he signed a big-free agent in 2019 before only playing a handful of snaps that season and then deciding to sit out of the 2020 NFL season because of safety reasons. James had his toughness and willingness to take the field questioned publicly and tackle and teammate Garett Bolles said that James needs to earn the trust back from his teammates this offseason. So, there are plenty of questions surrounding James.

Also, there have been talks about ways the Broncos could either get out of James’s hefty contract and/or try to trade him away if possible. So, his future is definitely in question so it makes sense for the Broncos to do their due diligence on the top offensive tackles.