Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Broncos Claim CB Cyrus Jones, Waive Coty Sensabaugh
The Denver Broncos continued their pursuit for both short- and long-term cornerback depth on Wednesday, as the team was awarded Cyrus Jones off waivers. The Broncos put a claim in on Jones after the Baltimore Ravens waived him earlier this week and the team got their man.
The corresponding cut was the waiving of cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who joined the Broncos on October 8 after De'Vante Bausby sustained a season-ending neck injury. So what do we know about Jones?
He was a 2016 second-round draft pick of the Patriots (No. 60 overall) and helped New England win Super Bowl LI. The future looked bright for Jones and then the injury bug struck in his second year, as he suffered a severe ACL and meniscus that led to injured reserve. He was waived on the doorstep of the 2018 regular season.
The Ravens capitalized, however, initially signing Jones to the practice squad. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound corner only lasted a short time in his first Baltimore stint before the Patriots swooped back in and signed him off the Ravens' practice squad less than three weeks later.
Surprisingly, Jones only lasted another three weeks in New England before he was waived and you'll never guess who claimed him; that's right, the Ravens. He would go onto return a punt 70 yards for a score in Week 12 of last season in Baltimore.
Jones had carved himself out a role as a depth cornerback and return specialist but ball security issues eventually saw the Ravens lose patience. He was waived on Tuesday.
Now, Jones is a Bronco and he steps onto a cornerback depth chart that has seen a couple of previous waiver claims, one of which being another former New England second-rounder (Duke Dawson), carve themselves out leading roles on defense.
Dawson and Davonatae Harris have been playing starter's snaps as the nickel and other starting corner opposite of Chris Harris, Jr., respectively. Only time will tell whether Jones will follow suit.
However, the Broncos wouldn't have claimed Jones if Vic Fangio didn't believe he was a scheme fit. Fangio and his staff have already displayed a penchant for developing young talent but Jones will have to capitalize on his opportunity.
The Broncos have a lot of future questions at the position, with Bryce Callahan likely headed for injured reserve with that lingering foot injury and Harris, Jr. poised to test the open waters of unrestricted free agency in the spring.
Davontae Harris and Dawson have shown potential to stick around long-term, and in conjunction with the emergence of Bausby as a starter earlier this year, the Broncos will definitely have better and more options this coming spring, if the market for Harris, Jr.'s services turns out to be too rich for John Elway's blood.
Meanwhile, don't expect the Broncos to make a change at the punt returner position. Diontae Spencer has been dependable thus far and has come close to breaking off a couple returns.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.
