2023 wasn’t a banner year for offense in the Mile High City, though some gains were made, particularly along the offensive line.
While the offensive line took a big leap, Courtland Sutton was experiencing a resurgent season and performed like the NFL’s elite redzone targets.
Who had the best season on offense in the eyes of the LTB Crew?
Joey Richards (@JRDrafts): Quinn Meinerz.
He was the best offensive player for the Broncos this past season. Whether it be opening holes in the run game or anchoring against some of the league’s best interior defensive linemen, Meinerz was terrific.
The Broncos’ offensive line as a whole was much better than we have seen in recent years and it’s largely because of Meinerz’s major development, making him the most consistent player on the team’s best group.
Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars): Courtland Sutton.
For large swaths of this season, it felt like the only offensive element the Denver Broncos could rely on was Sutton. The stats and figures might not fully capture that, but anyone who watched all the Broncos’ games felt that.
Maybe some of the offensive linemen outperformed Sutton, but Sutton’s value to the offense often felt irreplaceable.
My full case for Sutton can be found in the second half of my longform Broncos Awards article.
Mario Vetanze (@VetanzeTherapy): Quinn Meinerz.
It may seem odd that an interior offensive lineman is the offensive player of the year, but Meinerz was just that good. Arguably the best guard in all of football, Meinerz was far and away the most reliable player on the Broncos offense.
This is a bit of an indictment on the offense as a whole, but that shouldn’t take away from how brilliant Meinerz was this season.
Courtland Sutton was DOMINANT this season. He proved he could be his 2019 self and more. He became a safety valve for Russ at any point and it was very telling when he wasn’t on the field late in the year.
Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm): Lloyd Cushenberry III.
Sadly, my choice for OPOY is a player that will be in a different uniform next season.
The third round pick from 2020 seems to have hit his stride in year four, as he posted career-best numbers in pressures allowed, and was a major factor for Denver in the run game, especially when they leaned into more outside zone. His ability to fire off and climb to second level defenders is among the best in the league, and his work in the screen game provided Denver with options to slow down opposing pass rushers.
His partnership with Quinn Meinerz really blossomed in 2023 and if the two of them were the center pieces of this Broncos interior for years to come, it’d be a dream come true. Unfortunately, it will only ever be a dream.
Carter Dillon (@CarterDillon14): Courtland Sutton.
He was dominant this season. He proved he could be his 2019 self and more. He became a safety valve for Wilson at any point and it was very telling when he wasn’t on the field late in the year.
Robby Davis (@Robby_NFL): Courtland Sutton.
He provided a safety blanket for a struggling offense and quarterback.
Jason Bishop (@JasonBishopBI): Garett Bolles.
Many are going to say Courtland Sutton here, which makes sense, but my pick for Offensive Player of the Year is Garrett Bolles.
Bolles in 2022 had a rough start to the season and suffered a season-ending leg injury, entering 2023 as a big question mark, with some wondering if he would be traded or even released.
How did he respond? With arguably the best season of his career.
Bolles was an anchor for the Broncos line this season which was especially key with all of the help that was needed for Mike McGlinchey on the other side.
Bolles finished with a 92% pass-block win rate according to ESPN, which was tied for seventh amongst tackles. Additionally, Bolles finished with a top-ten pass-blocking and run-blocking grade according to PFF. Bolles had a superb season that has lined him up for a lucrative extension this off-season.
Patrick Chiotti (@PatrickChiotti): Courtland Sutton.
Sutton had arguably his best season since 2019 and was one of, if not the best red zone wide receiver in the NFL.
“Court” was very clearly Russell Wilson’s favorite target throughout the season and made massive plays when it mattered, like in the Buffalo and Minnesota games.
Jacob Romano (@JTR_14): Quinn Meinerz.
Based on my pick for MVP, Courtland Sutton is more than deserving of this award as well, but Meinerz was the best offensive player on the Broncos roster this year.
Meinerz has come a long way from blocking trees in his backyard and has developed into one of the best guards in football. He displayed much-improved technique in pass pro and was an absolute mauler in the run game, showcasing the power to pancake every single defender in his path. He showed that he is a key factor in the Broncos’ offense and will hopefully be rewarded with a massive contract extension in the near future.
Winner: Courtland Sutton (4 votes)
Honorable Mentions: Quinn Meinerz (3 votes*), Lloyd Cushenberry III and Garett Bolles (1 vote each)
*Editor’s Note: Meinerz only missed out on Offensive Player of the Year as a result of his MVP victory.
