Breaking down the Broncos' options at defensive back in the 2019 NFL Draft

In our final position preview of the 2019 NFL Draft, we’re digging into the best options among the defensive backs.

Before Chris Harris Jr.’s contract turned into a full-blown situation, Kareem Jackson held the key to what position the Broncos would address in their secondary; safety or cornerback. With Harris now potentially being traded, both positions are need areas regardless of where Jackson may play.

The nice thing about Vic Fangio defense is that he doesn’t need a first-round caliber cornerback with all the zone he’ll be implementing. So we’re excluding the first-round candidates and focusing on high-end tacklers with instincts and ball skills to fit in Fangio’s scheme. The key in finding Harris’ future replacement isn’t in just getting the best cornerback, but rather, the best fit in the Broncos defense. 

We’re still looking at safeties too, considering that if Harris is traded, then Jackson goes back to corner and a safety becomes even more of a need. The Broncos would do well to add depth and see if they can find a deep safety that could complement Justin Simmons’ coverage ability in the slot and tackling skills close to the line.

Let’s get to it.

The best of both worlds

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/S, Florida

How would CGJ sound as a replacement for CHJ? Initials aside, the Gators’ star is one of the top defensive backs in the country because he can be physical in the slot—much like Harris—and is smooth in coverage with plus quickness.

The benefit of Gardner-Johnson is that he has decent size at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds and might be best suited as a safety who can be lined up all over the field. He’s a train coming downhill against the run or on quick hitters underneath and can roam the deep middle, ideally in two-deep looks.

The SEC standout would fit in a variety of schemes and could cover tight ends or even some of the quicker slot receivers. He wouldn’t quite be the ace in coverage that the Broncos’ legendary No. 25 is, but he’d bring more size and versatility. He carries a top-30 grade for us and would be a phenomenal pick at 41 or in a trade-up scenario from round two.

Options on day two

Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland

Savage was spectacular last year as a do-it-all safety who’s rightfully receiving first-round buzz. Assuming he slips to the Broncos at 41, he’d be a great young safety who can play deep, with plus instincts and physicality coming downhill.

Aptly named, Savage is a ferocious tackler and playmaker. He wouldn’t add corner depth but could create a special pairing with Justin Simmons and allow Denver to play a lot of big nickel with Will Parks in the mix.

Deionte Thompson, FS, Alabama

Thompson’s stock has dropped from earlier in the year, as he was our top safety for most of the season, but there are real concerns as to if his athleticism is truly elite to make up for some deficiencies in his ability to read plays, plays man coverage, and fly downhill when taking bad angles.

Thompson’s been inconsistent but he also checks off a lot of boxes; is physical coming downhill and rangy when playing deep.

At his peak, he has the making of a high-end deep safety who can roam the middle and be a ball-hawk—exactly what Denver could use to replace Darian Stewart and become dangerous in coverage over the deep middle.

He’ll need to be coached up and can’t be trusted if left in man coverage right now, but make no mistake, there’s pro bowl potential here.

Johnathan Abram, SS, Mississippi State

Abram is a classic in the box intimidator who plays with his hair on fire. The old adage of “plays with bad intentions” might actually be true with Abram, who plays with an at times reckless edge that would make T.J. Ward blush.

Beyond his physicality against the run and ability to play in the box, a big part of his appeal is that he’s a plus athlete, who even if unrefined, is smooth enough to turn and run with athletic tight ends or receivers. He’s rangy enough to play in two-deep looks too, a big plus in Fangio’s scheme.

All that said, Abram is still raw, will take bad angles and whiff on tackles or misplay routes in coverage leading to big plays. He’s not a reliable last line of defense, and likely never will be, but there’s plenty to like about him too, a big reason why he might not make it to 41.

Taylor Rapp, S, Washington

Rapp is a big physical safety whose stock has taken a dive after running a slow 40 at his pro day.

While he’s not a plus athlete, he’s good enough to turn and run with tight ends and plays a much more disciplined brand of football than Abram, though he’s almost as intimidating roaming the middle or defending the run.

He could work in two-deep looks and has been one of the best safeties in college football since the time he was a freshman. Don’t sleep on his ball skills either as Rapp has a lot to offer.

Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State

The first corner worth considering on our list, Layne is sticky and feisty in coverage and had a terrific combine, opening people’s eyes to what he can be.

Sure, he can turn and run with wideouts and will be physical at the point of attack, he has plus ball skills too, but the big appeal for him in Denver is that he’s very talented pouncing on passes when in zone.

He reads and reacts like a hawk and will pounce on the ball while also not shying away from tackling, that’s a lot of boxes to check off for what Fangio’s searching for.

The only thing about Layne is that he’d have to be taken on day two, maybe even round two. A steeper price than the Broncos might not be willing to pay, but you’d pay for what you get, and what you’d get is a bigger cornerback who’d be ready to see the field right away.

Nasir Adderley, CB/S, Delaware

Adderley is one of a few different nickelbacks who’d fit just as well as a deep safety.He was a standout in the FCS and has the ball skills and instincts to be a solid starter.

Denver’s loaded up on slot cover guys already, Adderley would be appealing too and make up for the potential loss of Harris. His instincts to play deep are also appealing as he would be a solid starting safety and pair nicely with Simmons.

He’s similar to Chauncey Gardner-Johnson but with a bit less size and physicality close to the line of scrimmage—though he’s more than a strong enough tackler to appeal to Fangio.

Round-three targets

Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

Love isn’t the biggest or the fastest—making him a nice value and good fit in Denver where those elite traits aren’t required—but he’s more than big and fast enough to be a strong starter in the NFL.

Love’s physicality really stands out, as he won’t back down from a challenge, is solid tackling against the run, will get physical with bigger receivers in press and fight like hell when the ball is in the air.

His discipline and ball skills really standout and he’d be perfect in more zone looks, where he has nice instincts. 

David Long, CB, Michigan

Long is a sticky cover man who’s physical in press coverage and tackles well in run support, just what the doctor ordered, as the Michigan corner stands out for his compete level in all phases of the game.

Even at 5-foot-10, Long plays bigger than his size, locking down receivers downfield and is ultra-physical, sometimes to an excess. He’s great flying downhill in run support too, and has good eye discipline, allowing him to make his fair share of plays on the ball.

His stock has risen quite a bit after a fine showing at the combine which included a 4.45 40 and some impressive jumps. He’s been used in coverage outside and in the slot, possessing great quickness and versatility.

Put in the right hands, Long could be a standout cornerback.

Kris Boyd, CB, Texas

Boyd was one of the Broncos 30-official visits and fits a slightly different mold then the versatile slot cover specialists we’ve talked about so far.

Boyd is bigger and physical, perfectly suited for press coverage and fills well against the run.

While he ran in the 4.4s in Indy, he got burned a bit too often in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl which has hurt his stock. Though, in a more zone-heavy scheme, there would be less of a concern with him turning and chasing after speedy wideouts.

He projects as a fringe starter with size, speed, and some physicality.

Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston

Johnson was another of the Broncos 30 visits and is a long boundary cornerback. He tested off the charts but isn’t necessarily the flashiest. His length allows him to make plays on the ball and he’ll mix it up and get downhill to help against the run.

The tools are enticing but he never quite dominated in college. He’d be a gamble on upside but is already well suited to become a solid boundary cover man.

Marvell Tell III, FS, USC

Tell III is big and long and tested amazingly well at the Combine, so the raw tools are all there. He didn’t always play up to that size or speed, as his tape lacks some flash, but he was efficient in all areas.

Tell is a reliable last line of defense and seems to have more range than originally thought, with plenty of ability to play close to the line as well. He won’t fly downhill but can make plays against the run and in coverage, as everything’s controlled and he doesn’t take many bad angles. 

His physical traits might even see him converted to corner, where he’d be ideal in cover-3 looks pressing up on the line outside on the boundary. His tools are enticing much like his versatility, even if he doesn’t always jump off the tape.

Amani Hooker, S, Iowa

Hooker’s been underrated all year but is feisty and plays really well close to the line of scrimmage or when covering the slot.

His instincts playing as a deep safety make him even more intriguing, as the do it all defensive back has a high motor and lots to like.

Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia

Thornhill was a workout warrior who played in a lot of different spots and has a bit of an edge when coming downhill.

That said, he can be inconsistent, didn’t wow in coverage and took some bad angles against the run. His versatility, athleticism, and upside make him intriguing but he’s a buyer-beware type of prospect. Even the early third might be too rich for him at this point.

Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn

Dean plays like a linebacker with an ultra-physical style of play in press coverage or when tackling against the run.

His combine performance surprised most people and while he started the season off hot, showing off some fine ball skills, he hasn’t always looked like an elite lockdown cornerback. That’s really his biggest knock, making him a nice fit in Denver where that’s not a requirement.

Day-three gems

Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon

Amadi had a quietly great season, showing off his physicality and ball skills, at times playing all over the field—look no further than his two-pick performance against Cal last year.

His instincts and compete level are really intriguing as a deep safety. He might not be overly special in any one area, beyond those instincts, but there’s a lot to like if he can be had on day three.

Iman Marshall, CB, USC

Marshall is a former highly-touted recruit who met with the Broncos at the Senior Bowl and would be a scheme fit who played his best in off coverage.

He didn’t test off the charts though, as he’s a bit slow, and that shows up on tape where he was inconsistent in coverage, giving up big plays, and is not overly physical.

He’s a fringe draftable player who’s even been talked about as potentially being converted to safety, where his instincts are a bit of an unknown.