Denver Broncos: Early training camp 53-man roster prediction
Defensive Backs
(10, 53/53)
- Justin Simmons (S)
- Kareem Jackson (S)
- AJ Bouye (CB)
- Bryce Callahan (CB)
- Michael Ojemudia (CB)
- De’Vante Bausby (CB)
- Duke Dawson (CB)
- Davontae Harris (CB)
- Trey Marshall (S)
- Isaac Yiadom (CB)
- Douglas Coleman III (cut)
- Alijah Holder (cut)
- Essang Bassey (cut)
- PJ Locke (cut)
The Broncos should be scouring free agency, the trade block, and the waiver wire for defensive backfield help.
Not only are the Broncos facing an uncertain situation at the cornerback position with four guys competing for one CB3 spot, but their safety depth is mostly untested and a massive dropoff after both Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.
For my money, De’Vante Bausby should be the CB3 to open the season, but the Broncos can’t quit Isaac Yiadom just yet. Davontae Harris also started some last year, and he has a chance to earn a prominent role again if he can have a good camp.
Third-round rookie Michael Ojemudia is another CB3 candidate, but the Broncos could also choose to bring him along slowly with the other guys they have available.
The team traded for Duke Dawson last year, and Dawson has really good nickel skills.
Trey Marshall is the only backup safety with any real in-game experience to speak of. Without preseason play, it’s hard to know how well Alijah Holder has come along since his transition to safety from cornerback, and both PJ Locke and Douglas Coleman III are practice squad types at this point.
Essang Bassey should be a practice squad candidate unless he can emerge in the cornerback battle.
Next. Early training camp depth chart observations. dark
I think the Broncos will keep 10 defensive backs ultimately, but they should be going after a player like Logan Ryan in free agency, a cornerback/safety hybrid kind of guy who could be the ideal backup for Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons and perhaps even one of the top five guys to play in the nickel defense for 2020.