Denver Broncos: 12 free agent cornerbacks the team must consider

Denver Broncos free agent targets at cornerback in 2021

It would be remiss if we didn’t try to make some connections between George Paton and available free agents in the 2021 class.

Obviously when he was with the Minnesota Vikings, Paton played a part in the drafting of Xavier Rhodes as a first-round pick out of Florida State. For a while there, it looked like the Vikings had themselves one of the best young corners in the game with Rhodes shutting down his side of the field.

His play took a dip in 2019 before the Vikings let him go and he signed on with the Colts. This past year in Indianapolis, Rhodes was tremendous. He had a pair of interceptions and allowed a completion rate of just 51.9 percent into his coverage.

Rhodes is the oldest player on this list at 31 years of age, but he could be worth a two-year deal if he’s willing to come to Denver and play for Vic Fangio.

Another former Vikings draft choice (second round in 2016), the fit between the Denver Broncos and Mackensie Alexander might be one of the most obvious among the players listed here.

With the primary 2021 NFL Draft targets being outside corners, the Broncos and new GM George Paton could see an opportunity to upgrade the nickel cornerback position with Mackensie Alexander who had his best season in Minnesota three seasons ago.

With Alexander playing in the nickel, the Broncos could keep Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia on the outside and have a pretty nice top three with those players alone. Adding more depth through the 2021 draft and free agency, this unit could morph into a strength of the team rather quickly.

Vic Fangio’s defense is complex and a veteran player like Alexander could step in and have an impact as that nickel player right away, and he won’t break the bank.