Denver Broncos: Possible trade/cut candidates during training camp
By Noah Smith
Denver Broncos Cut Candidate: Duke Dawson, CB
The Denver Broncos acquired Duke Dawson in a trade with the New England Patriots, sending a 2020 6th round pick in exchange for Dawson and a 7th round pick per Pro Football Reference. Dawson was in line to see snaps at slot cornerback, as well as a safety during the 2020 NFL Season.
However, a slew of season-ending injuries devastated the Broncos’ cornerback room, with Dawson suffering a torn ACL. Dawson primarily played on special teams during the 2020 NFL Season after being jumped on the depth chart by UDFA Essang Bassey early in the season.
Dawson was a highly coveted prospect coming out of Florida in the 2018 NFL Draft and had excellent ball production with 6 interceptions and 17 passes defended in four years at Florida, per Pro Football Reference. Dawson was originally a 2nd round pick of the New England Patriots before being traded.
The trade for Dawson was a worthwhile one, but shouldn’t be a reason why George Paton holds on to Dawson for longer than necessary. The Broncos added depth to the cornerback room in Kary Vincent Jr. and Kyle Fuller, who each have the versatility to play in the slot in sub-packages.
While Duke Dawson provided solid contribution on special teams, his unfortunate injury and unclear status on the depth chart make Dawson a clear candidate to be a cut candidate during Training Camp.