Denver Broncos: What’s next after AJ Bouye trade?
The Denver Broncos made a big trade for AJ Bouye at the cornerback position. What might be on deck for this team in free agency?
The Denver Broncos made a big trade for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback AJ Bouye, but the question is always what’s next?
Bouye’s presence in the Broncos’ lineup gives the team a CB1 entering the 2020 offseason, something they didn’t have before. Not only that, but the Broncos are confident in the recovery of their CB2, a free agent signing in 2019, Bryce Callahan.
At the Combine, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio shared the latest from his talks with Callahan.
"“I just saw him the other day. He says he’s doing much better compared to last year at this time which unfortunately is very comparable. It was the same operation twice. That’s what I can tell you. He told me the other day that he feels a lot better—whatever day that was—February 18 or 19 than he did last year on the same day.”Vic Fangio on Bryce Callahan (via Broncos PR at the 2020 Scouting Combine)"
Along with Bouye and Callahan, the Broncos also return Isaac Yiadom, Duke Dawson, and Davontae Harris at the cornerback position, young players who started at one time or another last season.
Despite the talent and potential of those young guys, the Broncos found out the hard way last year what not having plenty of depth in the defensive backfield can do over the course of the season.
A few on Twitter Wednesday afternoon were wondering out loud what might be next for the Broncos after trading for Bouye, and it looks like we may have our answer here.
(Both of them)
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 4, 2020
For those unfamiliar with those names, Joe is talking about Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara, who was released two weeks ago, as well as De’Vante Bausby, who was with the Broncos last season after starring in the now defunct AAF.
Amukamara would likely come in as a mostly full-time player for the Broncos as an outside corner when the team is lined up in the nickel, which in today’s NFL is most of the time for most teams.
His presence on the outside would give the Broncos a top three cornerback group of Bouye, Callahan, and Amukamara.
Bausby would be a nice CB4 for the Broncos as he showed starter traits last season and looked like he had legit potential to be a full-time starter with his preseason play and regular season reps.
The headliner of this duo would be Amukamara, who was a first-round pick once upon a time and established himself as a solid starter under Vic Fangio and Ed Donnatel with the Chicago Bears.
Allbright is not the only one who has fanned the flame around Amukamara to Denver rumors…
👀👀👀
— Prince Amukamara (@PrinceAmukamara) March 4, 2020
This was the first tweet Amukamara had posted since February 27, and the timing is certainly fascinating.
Broncos mock draft with AJ Bouye in the fold. dark. Next
Perhaps the Broncos and Amukamara have already had some discussions. We have no idea of that, but connecting the dots here, it seems only a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ Amukamara will be joining the Broncos’ revamped secondary.