Finding Broncos: 5 Defensive Backs for Depth and Special Teams

With where the Denver Broncos have improved their roster, they still have some significant holes. They need a lot of help at defensive back, including someone to compete with Caden Sterns for the starting job. While Sterns has had flashes, he has only played 585 snaps on defense in the NFL, with only four starts. The bigger concern with handing Sterns the starting job without competition is that he is coming from an injury that saw him miss the remaining 12 games last season.

Jalen Green | DB | Mississippi State

Pros

The size and frame are good enough for the NFL.
He has shown good timing and efficiency in his limited snaps blitzing.
He has shown good ball skills when attacking the catch point.
He has quick feet, and solid footwork, to ease his transitioning.
There is good range, and he shows good vision with reading passing concepts.

Cons

There isn't great athleticism to work with.
His tackling technique isn't great, leading to a high percentage of missed tackles.
There is an issue with penalties from over-aggressiveness and getting to the receiver early.
He can react quickly against the run but can't sort through traffic and will get stuck on blocks.
His lack of explosion and burst shows when he is trying to recover.

Fit with Broncos

There are some tools to work with, but Green has a limited ceiling. His limitations on defense will keep him as the fourth or fifth guy, which means he will have to make a career as a special teams ace.

Tanner McCalister | DB | Ohio State

Pros

He is a good athlete, with long speed and explosion.
There is great versatility to drop into the nickel while also offering up two and single-high ability.
There is good range to his game.
He is quick to react to plays and fires to engage.
He triggers downhill and plays tough and physically against the run.

Cons

His length isn't ideal for the NFL.
His angles can be rough when coming downhill.
His size does get him into trouble against certain matches.
The tackling can be hit or miss.

Fit with Broncos

McCalister would bring good versatility to the Broncos' secondary. However, he isn't the ideal prospect to compete with Sterns, but he can provide solid depth competition and special teams ability.

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Collin Duncan | S | Mississippi State

Pros

There is good size.
He is a solid athlete with excellent explosion.
There is plenty of physicality to his game.
He can hold up outside against the run.
He has shown good efficiency when working as a blitzer.

Cons

He is a bigger safety but doesn't play to it consistently.
There is an issue with his tackling technique and consistency, missing 30 tackles in the last two seasons.
Most of his experience came in the slot, but he isn't quick enough to hang in.
There isn't great discipline in his game, and he got hit with 13 penalties, six in 2022.

Fit with Broncos

Duncan is better suited to be a hybrid box safety in the NFL than working in the slot. The issue is that with how physical he is, there isn't enough reliability. He is projected to go undrafted, and if the Broncos want a box safety, then he can be worth the shot. However, he doesn't offer much versatility with his use.

Trevon Flowers | DB | Tennessee

Pros

There is excellent versatility to move around the secondary and play different roles.
He is disciplined and has done well to avoid penalties.
He is fluid and quick with his movement, staying low and changing direction well.
He has good length, which he uses well to attack the catch point, and he has shown good ball skills.

Cons

His tackling is a lot of misses, with 39 missed tackles over the last three seasons.
His instincts are not there, and he guesses a lot, getting out of position.
With how problematic he is with his tackling, he is hard to trust on defense.
He likes to go for the forced fumble and opens himself to be broken through.

Fit with Broncos

The Broncos need help at safety and on special teams, but Flowers can be problematic with his tackling. The Broncos will likely have better options, even among the undrafted free agents.

Stephan Blaylock | DB | UCLA

Pros

There is solid strength to his game.
He is disciplined and has only drawn three flags in his career.
He does well tracking the ball.
He is a physical run defender that brings force to contact.
There is good technique for taking care of blocks and getting through them.

Cons

He is a poor athlete.
His tackling can be hit or miss, being in the double digits each of the last four seasons.
He can struggle to break down passing concepts and be late to react.
His angles are consistently off, and he doesn't have the recovery athleticism to make up for it.
He can be baited with the quarterbacks' eyes and bites on double moves.

Fit with Broncos

Blaylock doesn't have much of a ceiling, and his lack of athleticism and other limitations can make it hard to take a shot on him. He is projected to be an undrafted free agent, and the Broncos would be better suited to look elsewhere.

The safety group of the class isn't great, but the cornerback room is. Many corner prospects are being projected to move back to safety or can play a versatile role in the secondary. Finding that versatile piece could be a priority for the Broncos for Vance Joseph's defense.

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