Editor’s note: This is the ninth and final in a series of NFL draft previews as it relates to the Broncos. Today: Defensive backs
April 10: Quarterbacks | April 11: Running backs | April 12: Wide receivers | April 13: Tight ends | April 14: Offensive line | Tuesday: Defensive line | Wednesday: Edge rushers | Thursday: Inside linebackers
Broncos’ in-house offseason moves: Signed cornerback Tremon Smith (two years, $5 million), re-signed cornerback Essang Bassey (one year, $1.01 million), re-signed safety P.J. Locke (one year, $1.01 million).
Under contract: Cornerbacks Smith, Bassey, Pat Surtain II (two years plus 2025 fifth-year option), Damarri Mathis (three years), K’Waun Williams (one year), Ja’Quan McMillian (two years), Faion Hicks (one year), Delonte Hood (one year). Safeties: Locke, Justin Simmons (two years), Caden Sterns (two years), Delarrin Turner-Yell (three years), Devon Key (one year).
Need scale (1-10): 7. Denver’s top-end talent in the secondary is elite with Surtain at corner and Simmons at safety, but both positions could use more depth. Mathis (assuming continued development) and Williams in the slot makes a quality starting trio of cornerbacks, but the Broncos have question marks after that. Sterns might well be ready to take over the other safety spot, but he has to stay healthy and the depth behind him is iffy.
Top Five
1. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon: The Colorado transfer spent one standout season with the Ducks and now could be a top-10 pick and the first defensive back off the board. Has size (6-foot-1, 197 pounds), speed (4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and production (four interceptions in 2022).
2. CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois: Could challenge Gonzalez for first DB off the board. A shade under 6-0 and 182 pounds at the Combine, Witherspoon started all four years at Illinois and could end up a top-10 pick.
3. CB Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State: Son of the former All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter, he’s a smooth, explosive athlete. At 6-3 and 204 pounds, Porter Jr. provides elite length at corner. Started his final 31 games for the Nittany Lions and was first-team All-Big Ten in 2022.
4. S Brian Branch, Alabama: It’s not a deep safety class at the top end, but Branch has a chance to be special. He can play in the middle of the field or in the slot. Didn’t wow at the Combine (4.58 in the 40-yard dash, 34.5-inch vertical) but produced for four years in Nick Saban’s defense.
5. CB Deonte Banks, Maryland: Banks is one of the faster players in the draft class and turned in a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Had a strong 2022 season (nine passes defensed, one interception) after a shoulder injury cost him all but two games in 2021. At 6-foot, 197 pounds, has size and length to play outside.
Broncos’ Options
The Broncos only have five draft picks and don’t get to their first pair until the top of the third round. A look at five possibilities for Denver:
1. CB Darius Rush, South Carolina: Rush and his teammate Cam Smith are both potential third-round options for Denver. Rush (6-2) is 1.5 inches taller and has a better wingspan than Smith and is also 18 pounds heavier at 198. He’s bigger than 2022 fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis (5-11, 195), but is similar in speed (Rush 4.36/2.52/1.49 40/20/10 splits, Mathis 4.39/2.58/1.54 splits) and Relative Athletic Score (9.81 for Rush, 9.72 for Mathis). A slightly bigger, more athletic version of a player general manager George Paton loved last year at a position of need. What’s not to like?
2. CB Tyreke Stevenson, Miami: Stevenson is another potential third-round option for the Broncos – there are a bunch – if they decide to target the secondary with one of their first two selections. Stevenson is 6-foot, 198 pounds and ran 4.45 seconds in the 40 at the Combine. He had two interceptions and nine passes defensed in 2022.
3. DB Jartavius Martin, Illinois: Another member of the talented Illinois secondary Martin brings an intriguing combination of skills that could get him on the field in the slot, at safety or potentially at corner. Ran 4.46 seconds at the Combine at 5-11 and 194 pounds. He had three interceptions and 64 tackles in 2022.
4. DB JL Skinner, Boise State: Skinner is big at nearly 6-4 and 209 pounds and a player whom Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph might see as a versatile member of the back seven. Skinner at BSU played mostly safety and would add a different body type to a group in Denver that, opposite Justin Simmons, looks like an open competition.
5. CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse: The Broncos brought Williams in for a 30-visit, likely – as is the case for most pre-draft visitors – at least in part because of medical questions. Williams missed time in each of his first four seasons before playing 13 games in 2022. He checked in at better than 6-foot and 204 pounds at the Combine and ran 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
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