The Broncos’ cornerback room looks strong on paper, but the real story is sitting just beneath the surface: Denver may have a trade decision looming before the season even gets rolling.
Patrick Surtain II anchors the group as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and he’s flanked by Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. That gives Denver a starting trio that can hold up against just about anybody. But each of those two complementary pieces comes with a wrinkle.
McMillian has a knack for creating turnovers, yet the coverage numbers paint a shakier picture. He’s been the opponent’s favorite target for completions and explosive plays, not only among Denver’s defensive backs but among slot corners across the league. A big part of that comes down to his ability to stay connected through breaks, which remains a problem because he isn’t the smoothest mover.
Moss has dealt with a different kind of issue. The penalties were a major problem for much of the year, but once he started trying to clean that up, his coverage slipped.
He gave up more catches and more yards per target after the flags came down. For Moss, the challenge is clear: he has to stay sticky in coverage without giving away free yards with penalties.
That’s where Jahdae Barron enters the picture. He’ll have a shot to compete for a starting job, and if he makes enough noise, Denver could be pushed toward moving Moss or McMillian before the season or ahead of the NFL deadline. Barron’s rookie season wasn’t especially loud, but he showed flashes in a dime role, and that’s the foundation for his development.
There’s also Kris Abrams-Draine, who has shown some coverage ability but doesn’t bring the size or physical edge to be trusted as a run defender. When he’s been asked to start, his coverage has been solid at times, but the run game has been a problem, and his tackling has been an issue.
Behind that top tier, Denver has a cluster of younger names trying to carve out a spot. Reese Taylor and Jaden Robinson are the headliners in that group, and both have drawn positive feedback during their time with the Broncos. Robinson offers versatility in the secondary, while Taylor looks like a slot corner who can slide outside if needed.
Brent Austin and Ahmari Harvey are undrafted rookies fighting for a practice-squad opening, though they’ll have to climb past Taylor and Robinson to get there. Sean Fresch Jr., a recent UFL signing with return value, and Blake Cotton, an undrafted rookie out of Utah who joined as a tryout player in June, are in a similar uphill battle.
Still, everything circles back to the same question: what happens with Moss, McMillian, and Barron? If Barron proves he belongs in the starting mix, Denver may have to decide whether to keep its depth intact or move one of its impending free agents. That would thin things out, but letting a first-round pick from last year sit in reserve is not a great sign for his growth, especially at a position where the price keeps climbing.
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Keys appeal is easy to see. He arrived with a solid college rsum at Kentucky and the kind of size and ball skills that can make an undrafted player harder to ignore once the practices get competitive. If he keeps that momentum going, the Broncos may have to decide whether he can push for one of the final receiver spots or settle into a practice squad path that still keeps him in the building. [Read more 🡒]
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Payton even reached back to his own early days calling plays, pulling up a box score from a 1999 preseason game when he was the Giants quarterbacks coach to make a point to Webb. It was the kind of veteran-to-apprentice reminder that fits Denvers current setup, where the coach who has seen just about everything is still willing to teach while letting a new play-caller find his own rhythm. [Read more 🡒]