Broncos draft Senior-Bowl standout in third round

John Elway just added another piece to the “Baby No Fly Zone.”

The Broncos chose Boston College cornerback Isaac Yiadom (pronounced Yeah-dum) with the 99th pick in the draft. Yiadom played on the North team at the Senior Bowl, which was coached by the Broncos’ staff. Pro Football Focus rated him as the best defensive back in the game.

Yiadom is a long, lean cornerback who has the tools to develop into a starter, once he refines the technical aspects of his position. Until then, Yiadom should be a top-tier special teamer for the Broncos, who lost some of their top contributors in recent years.

Yiadom, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs just 190 pounds, broke up seven passes during his senior season and picked off two.

Denver drafted Brendan Langley, another project cornerback, in the third round of last year’s draft. The two are expected to battle for the Broncos’ fourth cornerback slot, behind Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, and Tramaine Brock. It should be noted, though, that Vance Joseph said on Friday night that all positions will have an open competition.

Yiadom is the fourth player Denver has chosen in the draft, so far. The Broncos took Bradley Chubb in the first round, Courtland Sutton in the second and Royce Freeman earlier in the third.

The Broncos’ next selection is the 106th pick. It will be the seventh pick on Saturday morning, when the draft resumes for the fourth round.