Finding Broncos: 5 Corners for Additional Depth Later in the Draft

Even with the improvement the Denver Broncos made to their roster, they could not fix everything. There are a lot of issues with this roster, and depth all along the roster got exposed last season due to injuries that mounted. One of those positions is at corner, where they need depth and someone to compete with Damarri Mathis for the second boundary job.

Rejzohn Wright | CB | Oregon State

Pros

He has solid size and length for the NFL.
He uses his length to wrap around receivers and attack the catch point.
He is aggressive and physical, and he plays with confidence.
He shows good instincts and awareness in zone coverage and does well when passing his man off.
While the technique is lacking, he does well to mirror in man coverage.

Cons

He is extremely grabby, with 12 penalties against him, and his grabbiness was on display at the Senior Bowl.
The technique is lacking, and when he gets in danger, what little technique there is goes out the window.
He suffered injuries during the scouting process.
There isn't great recovery athleticism when he gets beat early in the rep.
There is a lack of speed, and he can get beaten over the top.
His aggression can turn into recklessness, especially when working the corner as a run defender.

Fit with Broncos

While Wright can fit the scheme, his lack of discipline in all phases will likely hurt his stock for the Broncos. It is a deep class, and as a team wanting to turn it around, they may not want to take the risk Wright presents.

Jarrick Bernard-Converse | CB | LSU

Pros

He has good size, mass, and length.
He is a good athlete with speed, burst, and explosion.
During his college career, he has played all over the secondary, in the slot, on the boundary, and as a deep safety.
There have been flashes of excellent ball skills, with four interceptions and 25 passes broken up.
He has been reliable with his tackling and comes to balance with plenty of force in his attempts.

Cons

There has been an issue with penalties, with 19 in his career and 12 in the last two seasons.
He has been boom or bust in coverage, allowing 19 touchdowns in his career.
He must stay balanced in coverage, especially when attacking the catch point.
There may be questions about his comfort level in specific coverage schemes.

Fit with Broncos

Bernard-Converse has good experience and versatility to play multiple spots in the secondary. While he does better in zone coverage, he works better when playing farther from the line. The Broncos will likely press with their corners, and Bernard-Converse isn't a great press option.

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Jakorian Bennett | CB | Maryland

Pros

He is a great athlete with excellent speed, burst, and explosion.
He has good ball skills, with five interceptions and 17 passes broken up.
His speed consistently shows on tape, helping him get into position or recover.
He is willing and active in run support.
He has excellent ball-tracking skills.
He can contribute to special teams right away.

Cons

There isn't ideal size for a boundary corner, which could see him limited to the slot.
There is an issue with his missed tackles, missing 16.9%.
He has a problem with penalties, with 14 over the last two seasons.
As the route develops, his discipline with his technique falters.
He isn't the most physical corner.

Fit with Broncos

While Bennett can play outside, he is made for life in the slot with his size and how he plays the run. The Broncos need to find someone to take over the slot after the 2023 season, and Bennett is a great fit for what they do. With a year backing up K'Waun Williams, Bennett can develop, play on special teams, and be in a position to take over.

Mekhi Blackmon | CB | USC

Pros

He is a solid athlete with good speed and burst.
Despite him being undersized, the missed tackles haven't been an issue.
The ball skills are there, with five interceptions and 20 passes broken up.
He tracks the ball well and has the speed to get into position or recover.
He transferred from Colorado to USC and picked things up quickly, earning praise from USC coaches.
He does well against the run, showing good tenacity and effort.
His tackling technique is sound, coming to balance and bringing force into contact.

Cons

He is a little undersized, lacking length and mass.
There has been some boom-and-bust with his play, allowing 10 touchdowns.
Despite being tough and physical, there are issues fighting through blocks or receivers to attack the catch point.
His lower body mechanics can falter, with him opening up early in routes.
There was missed time with injuries during his career.
He will be a 24-year-old rookie.

Fit with Broncos

Blackmon is a fierce competitor who offers some good scheme versatility. As a projected later-round pick, he would be a great option for the Broncos if the medicals check out.

Jay Ward | CB/S | LSU

Pros

There is decent size, and he is a solid athlete overall, with good short-area burst.
His burst helps him stay in phase when mirroring receivers in man coverage.
He is competitive when working downhill against the run and doesn't back down when taking on blocks.
He has played over 400 snaps as a safety, boundary corner, and nickel in his 1,792 snaps on defense.
He has done exceptionally well on special teams, including blocking a couple of field goals.
His leadership on the LSU defense was praised.

Cons

There are issues with missing tackles, with a 21.8% missed tackle percentage.
Penalties were an issue in 2022, with eight flags thrown against him, with only nine in his career.
His play strength isn't ideal, which can show with his tackle attempts or working as a run defender.
He loves to go for the fumble, and the lack of strength sees him struggle to hold up the receiver.
There are questions about his ideal fit with the scheme and position.

Fit with Broncos

The Broncos can use depth all along the secondary, and Ward's versatility is a boost. They can work him into the scheme from multiple positions. His best spot might be as a nickel, developing under Williams to take over while contributing on special teams.

The class for corners is a strong one, with good depth. There is a good chance the Broncos can find someone quality fall later in the draft because of how strong the class is.

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