5 options for the Denver Broncos to consider in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Noah Smith
The Denver Broncos finished the season with only one healthy cornerback who started the season on the roster in Michael Ojemudia. A series of freak injuries decimated the Broncos’ secondary and surely influenced the team to improve the depth over the offseason.
Caleb Farley would be an ideal fit in the Broncos’ secondary and would add a ready to play player that also has extreme upside for Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell to work with. Farley’s physical traits are enticing, and could certainly make him the pick at number 9 overall.
Farley played in a zone-heavy defense at Virginia Tech, where he showed off his ball skills and anticipation with 6 interceptions and 19 passes defended in two years, per Pro Football Reference. Farley has the intelligence and understanding of route concepts to play boundary cornerback in a Vic Fangio defense, and could immediately contribute for the Broncos.
While the Broncos will be returning 2020 3rd round pick Michael Ojemudia and Bryce Callahan at cornerback, A.J. Bouye‘s future is not as certain. Bouye was suspended for the final four games of the 2020 season and will serve time to start the 2021 season as well.
While the Denver Broncos still have Bouye under contract for one more year, he has no more guaranteed money left on his deal. If the Broncos wanted to move off of A.J. Bouye, they could do so with no penalty, and save just over $13 Million, per Overthecap.
If the Broncos decide to move off of Bouye, Caleb Farley would be an ideal replacement at boundary cornerback, to pair with another young player in Ojemudia. The enticing size and athleticism of Caleb Farley may be too good to pass up on for the Denver Broncos with the 9th overall pick.