Denver Broncos: 3 free-agent cornerbacks to avoid
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. CB. D.J.Hayden. 2. . player. 52
D.J. Hayden was once thought so highly of that he was selected with the No.12 overall pick in the draft. He’s never lived up to that status and frankly, hasn’t even come close.
Hayden has spent the past three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, though injuries pretty much eliminated him from the 2020 season. The Jags are his third NFL team but he hasn’t been particularly great in any of his stops.
In 86 career games, Hayden has just four interceptions. He has never struck fear in any opposing receivers and is likely nothing more than a backup at this stage in his career. The Broncos need to find a guy who can be a starter, especially if the team is going to spend the kind of money Hayden could be looking for.
That figure could be in the neighborhood of $6 million per season, according to projections from Spotrac. A guy coming off an injury-riddled season who has put forth this level of production in his career probably isn’t worth that.
The team that drafted Hayden, the Las Vegas Raiders, gave up on him and the Detroit Lions made no attempt to re-sign him after just one season with the team.
Like Norman, Hayden probably won’t find his best success with a fourth team and the Broncos should only consider him if numerous other options fall through.