Broncos Assistant Coach in High Demand Around NFL
The Denver Broncos have one assistant coach in high demand around the NFL. Secondary coach Christian Parker has reportedly garnered interest from teams looking for a new defensive coordinator.
On Friday, insider Ian Rapoport reported that Parker interviewed for the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator job opening.
"The Packers have interviewed rising Broncos DBs coach Christian Parker for their vacant defensive coordinator job, source said. Just 32 years old, Parker has impressed," Rapoport tweeted.
Indeed, Parker is a "rising" star within the NFL coaching ranks. Hired in 2021 by Vic Fangio, Parker has stuck around in Denver through three head-coaching regimes, which is saying something.
The 32-year-old has also earned the faith and belief of the Broncos, who nominated him last spring to participate in the NFL's Coach Accelerator Program, which "aims to increase exposure between owners, executives, and diverse coaching talent, providing ample opportunity to develop and build upon their relationships."
Combined with his hard work and the results he's garnered in the Broncos' secondary, Parker's inclusion in the Accelerator Program has certainly seemed to microwave his NFL coaching profile. Just five years into his NFL coaching career, he's now under serious consideration for a pair of coordinator openings.
Last week, Parker interviewed with the New England Patriots for their DC vacancy. Of the two interviews, Green Bay seems to make the most sense for him because that's where he got his NFL coaching start.
The Packers hired Parker as a defensive quality control assistant in 2019. He spent two seasons with the club before Fangio brought him to Denver, with a glowing recommendation, per reports at the time. Parker's experience under Fangio could be a huge factor in teams' interest in him, as Fangio disciples have been all the rage around the NFL the past few years.
Under Parker's coaching, the Broncos secondary has thrived. Safety Justin Simmons and cornerback Patrick Surtain II have earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors under Parker, while Ja'Quan McMillian seemingly came out of nowhere this past season to establish himself as one of the NFL's best nickel corners. Plus, P.J. Locke storming onto the NFL scene was amazing to behold.
It hasn't been all roses for Denver's secondary, but that's been due more to personnel limitations and the injury bug. After all, it was K'Waun Williams' season-ending injury that opened the way for McMillian's emergence in 2023.
However, the boundary corner position opposite Surtain remains a nut that Parker has been unable to crack thus far. The Broncos have tried a few different players in that role, including Damarri Mathis and Fabian Moreau, this past season, but moving forward, the chances are slim of either being the long-term solution.
The Broncos have one hopeful option in 2023 third-rounder Riley Moss. He missed the first half of the season with an injury, and by the time he was healthy enough to dress, he saw little playing time on defense. But Moss is Denver's best option opposite of Surtain, for now.
The Broncos face some big question marks in the secondary, which could be exacerbated if Parker departs for greener pastures. Locke is an unrestricted free agent, and Denver moved on from Kareem Jackson.
The Broncos need to solidify the safety spot next to Simmons, assuming the All-Pro returns to play out his contract year and isn't traded. Caden Sterns is an option, but he's missed the better part of the past two seasons due to the injury bug, and neither Delarrin Turner-Yell or JL Skinner seem ready for the starter's limelight.
If Locke is re-signed, it would remove the immediate panic at safety, but there's no guarantee he will be considering Denver's current over-extension on the salary cap. Expect the Broncos to use some of their draft capital on defensive backs, whether it's a safety or corner.
Time will tell what happens with Parker. It's only a matter of time before he's swooped up by another team, and it could be this hiring cycle.
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