Denver Broncos add to shaky cornerback depth by taking Michael Ojemudia in round 3
After taking wide receivers in each of the first two rounds of the NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have decided to address the defensive side of the ball.
The Broncos came into this draft needing some help at the cornerback position and some even thought the team could opt for a player such as C.J. Henderson in the first round. Though the Broncos did acquire A.J. Bouye this offseason via trade, they also lost Chris Harris to free agency.
With Harris being the final piece from the “No Fly Zone” days, the Broncos have been tasked with rebuilding the secondary. The safety position is strong with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson but at cornerback opposite Bouye, the team needed more than De’Vante Bausby and Bryce Callahan.
That led to the team using the No. 77 overall pick on Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia.
A starter as a redshirt freshman at Iowa, Ojemudia played in 36 games for the Hawkeyes, collecting six interceptions and coming up with 17 pass deflections.
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Ojemudia is a strong tackler who will be solid in zone coverage but will need to work on his man coverage as his skills in terms of anticipation and ball skills just aren’t there yet.
He is a lengthy corner and certainly looks the part. He was physical enough in the college ranks but it’s unclear if that will hold up in the pros.
It was definitely the right time to target the cornerback position as time was running out to get one that could be an impact player. But was Ojemudia the right pick?
Players such as Bryce Hall and Troy Pride were still on the board, but the Broncos clearly saw Ojemudia as a better fit for Vic Fangio’s scheme.
His ability as a tackler is likely what sold Fangio. The 4.45-second 40-yard dash he ran at the scouting combine probably sold the rest of the organization.
The pick was a slight reach, but the hope will be that Ojemudia can help Denver out if a guy like Callahan or Bausby falters or can’t stay healthy, something neither player could do last year.