The Broncos exited last season with no proven cornerbacks available, with Bryce Callahan injured and A.J. Bouye suspended. Teams have now observed Denver may have a surplus at this position.
Teams have called the Broncos about their depth, with Mike Klis of 9News noting some are eyeing Denver’s corner group. The Broncos cut Bouye but retained Callahan. They then added Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency and drafted Patrick Surtain II ninth overall, passing on Justin Fields and Mac Jones to do so.
“We’re fortunate we have a player in Surtain that can play multiple positions at a young age,” first-year GM George Paton said, via Klis. “Not many rookies can play three positions. It’s a really good problem to have. It’s Vic [Fangio‘s] problem, but you can’t have enough of those guys. Corners, a lot of them go down so we’re really happy with our depth. We have a lot of teams calling us on our depth. But we like our corners, that’s for sure.”
Denver has an interesting mix of midlevel contracts — Callahan, Darby and Fuller are each signed to deals averaging between $7-$10MM per year — at corner, along with Surtain’s rookie-deal salary. The Broncos also used a third-round pick on Michael Ojemudia last year. Nickel sets generally call for three cornerbacks, potentially leaving teams wondering if the Broncos are open to moving one of their vets, though dime sets and others in which the team’s top four corners play together are likely in Fangio’s plans.
The Broncos are using Surtain at multiple spots, and Callahan and Darby bring injury pasts creating a need for depth. Callahan ended the 2018 and 2020 seasons on IR and missed all of the 2019 season. Darby was sidelined for 20 games from 2017-19. Denver’s depth may be limited to just 2021, with Callahan and Fuller on one-year deals, but it will nonetheless be interesting to see how the Broncos proceed at this spot.
A lot of people don’t like Fangio as a HC but his ability to construct top defenses once he has some talent to work with, can’t be questioned. He did it in San Francisco and Chicago and he can do it in Denver too.
I hope Surtain can actually play great but passing on a QB could be costly. I know Cowboy fans desperately wanted Surtain
Parsons has looked good but as said Cowboy fan I was pretty deflated when Surtain was taken.
Yeah, didn’t expect them to pass on Fields.
There was no reason to force a pick for a QB that will need development to start. Denver does not the offensive staff to carry out that development. Fields is not starting for Chicago yet, and neither is Jones for New England, who was likely more pro ready than Fields was. Denver needs a QB who can start now.
A better proposition in my mind would have been trading a lower pick for Minshew than burning a first on a less ready and unproven player. I personally would have liked to see a higher pick used on a linebacker to play in the middle, or even better, a trade back to net a high future pick, for Denver. But Surtain looks like a good prospect, so we’ll see how it works. I think Denver can wait a year and either go for Rodgers or draft a more pro ready QB who might come up in the draft.
Mac Jones is ready to go. Was shocked he fell to the Patriots.
I liked Jones as well, but my point is that he’s not starting, and he was in my mind the most pro-ready QB in the draft. Denver really is/was not in a position to groom a QB because it just isn’t any good at it. The offensive coaches on staff have demonstrated no ability to do so either. The QBs left we’re not in my mind generational prospects worth a first round pick to a team who couldn’t develop them. I would have liked Denver to trade back and nab another first for next year, but I’m glad that they did not panic and take a QB who’d do better with another staff.
Fangio has potential at HC but that offense really needs to be to step it up. Especially given the receiving corps. Great WRs, TE, and RBs.
Can’t have enough corners. Can easily shift them to safety if needed.
Callahan is always injured, thus Denver will need a competent backup for him.