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Denver Broncos: 5 underrated free agent defensive backs

By Sayre Bedinger

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his interception against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at Ford Field on October 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his interception against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at Ford Field on October 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 11: Darqueze Dennard #21 and William Jackson III #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 11: Darqueze Dennard #21 and William Jackson III #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Bengals

Age: 27 (will be 28 by the start of the 2019 season)

One of the 30 players taken before Bradley Roby in the 2014 NFL Draft was Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, who has been a key piece of the Bengals’ defense for the past four seasons.

He played a career-high 78 percent of the Bengals’ snaps in 2017 but that number took a dip under 60 percent in 2018.

The Bengals aren’t using Dennard as much as one would expect a former first-round pick to be used, but Dennard is one of a number of sneaky good slot cornerbacks in the NFL today.

Of course, the Broncos have the best slot cornerback in Chris Harris Jr., but Harris has stated a preference to play on the outside. The only problem is, the Broncos haven’t had anyone capable of playing the slot as well as Harris, and this year’s free agency could change that drastically.

Dennard has been an extremely steady all-around corner for the Bengals, playing over 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons in the slot. He has been among the league’s best, allowing a reception about once every 10 snaps in the slot.

The Broncos could use Dennard all around the defensive formation, but he could give them a strong option in the slot with Harris taking more reps on the outside.

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