Report: Broncos acquire CB Duke Dawson via trade from Patriots

Friday started out with a bang for the Denver Broncos, as the team consummated a trade with the New England Patriots for cornerback Duke Dawson.

Per Ian Rapoport, the Broncos gave up a 2020 sixth-round pick in exchange for Dawson and a Patriots 2020 seventh-rounder. So was it a good move?

Dawson is just 23 years old and was New England's second-round pick last year. He played his college ball at Florida and suffered a severe hamstring injury as a rookie.

Dawson never actually appeared in a game for the Patriots. He's very much an unknown quantity at the NFL level.

If the Patriots chose to deal Dawson to the Broncos, it was likely because he had failed to do enough to earn a roster spot in New England.

While fans might be leery about the Broncos adding an injury-prone cornerback, the upshot is that he was a premium draft pick a year ago. And the Broncos got him for relative peanuts, basically moving back one round late in the 2020 draft.

We can only assume that the Broncos have plans for Dawson to make the 53-man roster on Saturday. He'll step onto a cornerback depth chart that has been impressive at the top.

Scouting report

Here's what our Nick Kendell says about Duke Dawson:

Dawson was decently high-profile coming out of Florida but had a nondescript Combine with average size and athletic testing. He was injured at New England and beat out by the depth on the roster. Possessing solid zone skills, Dawson isn't a fit on every team, given his limitations in man coverage. He has solid instincts and good physicality, but can get burnt. Will have a chance to salvage his career but looking like another in the line of busts from the Gators defensive backfield. If anyone can salvage him, it's Ed Donatell and Vic Fangio.

What it means

This trade affects De'Vante Bausby the most imminently but in no way do I see it pushing him off the roster. Bausby has been very good for the Broncos this summer and knows Fangio's scheme.

We know that when it comes to defensive backs, tackling is 'non-negotiable' for Vic Fangio, so the Broncos must believe that Duke Dawson can fall in line and oblige in that department.

What are your thoughts on the Dawson trade? Sound off in the comments section!

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