ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- What's most intriguing about offensive tackle Vinston Painter is his overall athleticism, which he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine in racking up 32 bench-press repetitions, covering the 40 in 4.95 seconds and notching a 30.5-inch vertical leap. All ranked in the top five among offensive linemen who worked out in Indianapolis.
Normally, such numbers would push an offensive linemen into the first four rounds. Painter was available in the sixth because of his relative lack of starting experience; he didn't become a full-time starter until last year after working as a backup the previous three years. Painter also is relatively new to the offensive line; when he arrived at Virginia Tech in 2008, he worked as a defensive tackle before switching sides of the line of scrimmage.
The Broncos are fairly well-set at tackle for 2013 once Ryan Clady signs his franchise tender; he'll take the left side, Orlando Franklin can handle the right side and Chris Clark looks set to be the primary backup once again. If those three stay healthy, Painter's rookie season might involve a lot of practice-field work and game days in sweats.
That wouldn't be the worst fate for Painter; he's raw and has plenty of room for growth. The workout numbers offer a glimpse of his ceiling, if his athleticism can be harnessed. Painter isn't a finished project; he's a projection -- like almost every pick of the final two rounds.
