Quinn Meinerz could be a Day 2 answer at guard

Quinn Meinrez, C/G
School: UW-Whitewater | Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (D3)
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22(?)
Height / Weight: 6’3” / 320 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Rounds 2-3

Player Overview

A three sport athlete in high school, Meinerz played football, wrestling, and track and field. Somehow, despite being named a Wisconsin All-State player on both the offensive and defensive lines, he wasn’t recruited by either FBS or FCS schools. He ended up at Division 3 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, where he played in two games his freshman year on the offensive line.

His sophomore season, he appeared in 14 games and was named first team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He also helped lead the Warhawks to the most potent offense in their conference. During his junior season, he was selected as team captain and he appeared in 15 games and was named Associated Press first team All-America. That season, he was also chosen as the team’s MVP, and he bolstered an offensive line that only allowed 21 sacks all season.

Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19, UW-Whitewater’s season - Meinerz’s senior season - was cancelled. Despite missing his senior season, Meinerz received an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he made a great impression on coaches and scouts in the practices leading up to the game. Meinerz was able to hold his own (and more) against some of the best seniors in the college game, displaying an impressive level of ability to handle their pass rushing techniques - built on a crash course of film review in the lead up to the practices. Meinerz ultimately broke his hand in practice, and despite pleading with the coaches to be allowed to play in the game, was ruled out. Nonetheless, his effort during the week got him solidly onto the radar of league talent evaluators.

Strengths

• Has positional flexibility, can play guard or center.
• Has a nasty streak. Enjoys finishing blocks.
• Student of the game.
• Has impressive play strength.
• Uses leverage well.
• Showed well in the Senior Bowl practices against top competition.

Weaknesses

• D3 competition.
• Possesses average athleticism.
• Needs to improve hand usage.

Let’s See His Work

How He Would Fit

Last year Washington drafted Saahdiq Charles as a tackle/guard project and Keith Ismael as a center/guard project. Though both men played very little last year, the picks were praised as savvy at the time in terms of building depth for the future. Former 4th round pick, guard Wes Martin, is still on the team as well, at least for the time being.

Whether it makes sense to draft a player like Meinerz this year depends primarily on whether Washington retains Brandon Scherff, and whether they think Charles’ ultimate destination is at tackle or guard. If the plan is to move on from Scherff and groom Charles behind Cornelius Lucas at tackle, it’s absolutely imperative that Washington look seriously at guards in the 2021 draft. A fiery mauler like Meinerz with interior line flexibility could be a great addition to an evolving Washington front.