​The Denver Broncos possess a once-in-a-lifetime talent in guard Quinn Meinerz, a standout from NCAA Division III who has evolved into a bona fide NFL superstar. Meinerz’s ascent toward elite status in the league reached a fresh milestone on Sunday as ESPN released its annual preseason position rankings, elevating him four spots to No. 4 in the Top 10. The Dallas Cowboys’ Tyler Smith claimed the top spot for the first time. The ranking panel comprises anonymous NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, with one NFL coordinator praising Meinerz as a “mauler in the run game.” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted that Meinerz “belongs in the elite category after another consistent season anchoring Denver’s interior attack,” highlighting his 75.7% run-block win rate, which ranks seventh among guards, and his emergence as a more complete player in recent years.
Meinerz, affectionately nicknamed “The Belly” or “The Gut,” marked the achievement in his own distinctive fashion on his official Instagram, sharing a post from the 1990s Era Nostalgia account that featured a still from the cult classic film “Small Soldiers.” The image showed Archer, the leader of the Monster-like Gorgonites who bears a striking resemblance to Meinerz. The caption underscored the nostalgia: “Today’s kids will never know who the leader of the Gorgonites is,” as noted by 90s Era Nostalgia in the post Meinerz reposted.
The Broncos signed Meinerz, now 27 years old, to a four-year, $74 million contract extension before the 2024 season, signaling a potential second major payday before he turns 30. His current deal runs through the end of the 2028 season, which could put the Broncos in a position to explore an extension when he is 29, following the 2027 season. That potential new contract could resemble the type of deal the Cowboys awarded Tyler Smith—a four-year, $96 million agreement signed ahead of the 2025 season.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 320 pounds, Meinerz’s path to the NFL was unconventional. He spent two seasons at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2018 and 2019 but did not play in 2020 after all Division III seasons were canceled due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, that setback didn’t deter pro teams from noticing his abilities, and he was drafted by the Broncos in the third round (No. 98 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft after impressing scouts at the Senior Bowl. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein lauded him as the standout of that year’s Senior Bowl, noting that Meinerz had “broken through and onto NFL draft boards despite moving up from Division III and having no 2020 tape.” He further explained that Meinerz flashed during 2019, though his tape didn’t match the upward trajectory he displayed against higher-caliber competition at the Senior Bowl. Zierlein also pointed out that Meinerz’s hands had improved significantly, and his movement became more efficient and powerful. The challenge ahead, he added, would be adjusting to NFL-level competition as a full-time center.
This rise places Meinerz at the center of the Broncos’ offensive plans as they push for sustained success in the league. His blend of power, technique, and increasingly refined footwork makes him a linchpin in Denver’s interior line, a player whose development has paralleled the franchise’s broader ambitions. As he continues to mature in the NFL, Meinerz’s trajectory suggests more high-profile contributions and the potential for further contract discussions as Denver weighs its long-term planning around a player who has already etched a distinctive mark in the league.