DENVER — There is a chance the Broncos’ upcoming draft will begin with a repeat from six years ago.
In 2014, the Broncos had one starting cornerback, Chris Harris Jr., coming off ACL surgery. The team had just signed a No. 1 corner, Aqib Talib, in free agency. And they followed up the Talib acquisition by selecting another cornerback, Bradley Roby, in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Harris, Talib and Roby were the Broncos’ cornerback trio for the next four seasons.
Here we are in 2020 and the Broncos have one starting cornerback, Bryce Callahan, coming off foot surgery. They just picked up No. 1 corner A.J. Bouye in a trade from Jacksonville. Would Broncos’ general manager John Elway follow it up by taking a cornerback in the first round in the NFL Draft that begins in 12 days, Thursday, April 23?
If so, the idea would be for Elway, his top assistant Matt Russell and head coach Vic Fangio to then select one of the remaining, quality receivers no later than with the No. 46 pick in the second round.
As it stands now, the Broncos’ competition for the No. 3 cornerback spot is between Davontae Harris, Isaac Yiadom, De’Vante Bausby and Duke Dawson Jr.
Hold on. There are more similarities between the Broncos’ 2014 draft and what they need now from 2020. After taking the corner Roby in the first round in 2014, the Broncos then selected receiver Cody Latimer in the second round, offensive tackle Michael Schofield in the third, and their next selections were inside linebacker Lamin Barrow in the fifth and center Matt Paradis in the sixth round.
Judge that draft as you will. None of those players are still with the Broncos, but then again Roby, Schofield and Paradis were starters for at least the past three years and Latimer just signed up with Washington for his seventh NFL season.
Once again, cornerback, receiver, offensive tackle, inside linebacker and center appear to be the Broncos’ positions of need (not necessarily in that order, although maybe) entering the 2020 draft.
The focus here is on cornerbacks.
A few of the cornerback prospects who could fit the Broncos either in the first (no. 15 overall), second(No. 46), or third (No. 77, 83, 95) rounds with their height, weight, 40 time and college:
1. Jeff Okudah, 6-1, 205, 4.48, Ohio State
That Elway and Russell personally attended one college game last season, and Okudah appeared to be their focus of that game suggests the Broncos’ brain trust has liked this player for a while.
Then again at the time Elway and Russell watched Ohio State and Penn State play in late-November, the Broncos seemed headed for the No. 8 or so spot in the draft. Winning four of their last five behind Drew Lock dropped the Broncos back to No. 15 – where Okudah should be long gone.
2. CJ Henderson, 6-0 1/2, 204, 4.39, Florida
There is some debate among NFL defensive-minded coaches and scouts as to whether Henderson is a better prospect than Okudah. Henderson is faster and arguably more fluid and a better tackler.
3. A.J. Terrell, 6-1, 195, 4.42, Clemson
Has a better size/speed combination than Okudah and Henderson. And no college cornerback played in bigger games as Terrell appeared in four consecutive NCAA playoff games the past two seasons as a sophomore and junior.
His final big game, against the LSU/Joe Burrow offensive juggernaut, didn’t go so well but Terrell still has tantalizing skills and size. A 20-40 pick.
4. Trevon Diggs, 6-1, 205, 4.54, Alabama
Stefan’s brother was a receiver for a while – he had 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown as a freshman – before becoming a nickel corner. A second rounder. Long but a scrapper who could fit in well with Fangio’s defense. Diggs also worked as a returner in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
5. Kristian Fulton, 5-11 ½, 195, 4.46, LSU
On his way to becoming a first rounder last year until a late-season ankle injury led him to return for his senior season.
Adding a national title and keeping his elite, pure cover skills shouldn’t hurt him this year. He could edge out Terrell as the third cornerback off the board after Okudah and Henderson.
6. Jaylon Johnson, 5-11 ½, 193, 4.50, Utah
The Broncos’ second-round selection by Mike’s Mystery Mockster. He’s physical and competitive in coverage but not exactly strong in the run game as he averaged just 34 tackles a season in his three years for the Utes.
But he had a 100-yard pick six against Stanford in his sophomore season and another pick-six against Washington’s Jacob Eason last year.
7. Noah Igbinoghene, 5-10, 198, 4.48, Auburn
Another receiver turned corner. Has a great swivel, as the scouts and draftniks would say. A superior athlete but because he is a converted receiver, he is somewhat raw as a defensive back. Broncos could consider him if he’s still there in the third round.
8. Bryce Hall, 6-1, 202, 4.49, Virginia
His combination of size and speed made him a first-round candidate until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Could be worth a third- or fourth-round pick.
9. Lamar Jackson, 6-2, 208, 4.58, Nebraska
Huge by cornerback standards. But a solid football player who could be in play with one of the Broncos’ three, third-round selections.
Others: Jeff Gladney, TCU; Damon Arnette, Ohio State; Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
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