Denver Broncos: The 5 most important training camp battles in 2020
2. Third cornerback
Even with just a couple of days leading up to 2020 training camp, I don’t think anyone has a clue who the Broncos’ number three cornerback is going to be.
Which is bizarre.
The team acquired AJ Bouye, a natural outside corner, to replace Chris Harris Jr. as the elder of the cornerback group. Harris was more suited to a nickel role, and struggled last season in Denver having to play more outside.
The Broncos also have a healthy Bryce Callahan back for the 2020 season, and he will be expected to play a huge role on the field this year after being a liaison for learning Vic Fangio’s defense to other players in 2019.
With Bouye and Callahan the expected top two at cornerback to open the season, the player who emerges as the CB3 in Denver will be one of a number of young players, likely someone who is capable of playing more outside corner.
Either that, or it will be a tremendous inside player who will cause the Broncos to keep Callahan outside in nickel situations.
Isaac Yiadom is the guy who finished the 2019 season as the starting outside corner with Harris on the other side and Will Parks in the nickel.
Even with that, it’s hard to consider Yiadom the ‘favorite’ at this point.
Davontae Harris also saw time as a starter for the Broncos last year after being picked up just before the start of the 2019 season. He had some moments of brilliance, and some tough learning moments as well.
De’Vante Bausby is back after suffering a scary spinal injury against the Chargers last season. Bausby showed maybe the most consistency in a smaller sample size of any of the corners who took outside reps for the Broncos in 2019.
The Broncos also acquired 2018 second-round pick Duke Dawson in a trade with the New England Patriots before the 2019 season, and Dawson had some really nice reps as a nickel corner in 2019. He is one guy who might be good enough as an inside player to keep Callahan outside in nickel packages. He may also have the versatility to be a backup to Kareem Jackson at strong safety in 2020.
You can’t forget about or count out 2020 third-round pick Michael Ojemudia, either. Ojemudia was impressive to the coaching staff during the remote learning portion of OTAs, and he has outside starter upside as a rookie as well.
Then there’s 2020 undrafted free agent Essang Bassey, who is built like an NFL veteran and projects as one of the top nickel defenders from the 2020 class despite being an undrafted player.
There are so many young, talented players at this position for Denver, and no one immediately stands out as the clear top option to be CB3 to open the season. That player will basically be a starter for the defense, so this is one of the most important battles on the roster overall.