Broncos 2020 Free Agency Preview: Cornerbacks
Mar 10, 2020, 6:47 AM
When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 18, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons for John Elway to go shopping. But in addition, Denver’s general manager will have a lot of money to spend.
Currently, the Broncos are $58 million under the 2020 salary cap, but that number could grow to as high as $76 million once Ron Leary and Joe Flacco come off the books as expected. And if Elway really wants to get crazy, he can free up nearly $9 million in additional cap space by parting ways with Todd Davis and Jeff Heuerman.
How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.
It continues today with one of the few positions where the Broncos could still be ready to do some shopping – cornerback. Yes, they just traded for A.J. Bouye, but that doesn’t mean that Denver is done. Bryce Callahan never saw the field in 2019, meaning he’s tough to rely on heading into this season. So if John Elway lets Chris Harris Jr. walk, which certainly looks like the way things are going, adding another corner is something the Broncos might be looking to do.
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Top Five Available
1. Chris Harris Jr. – For the first time in his career, the cornerback will be able to test his value on the open market. On the plus side, Harris will be touting the fact that he’s a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and a Super Bowl champion. Teams may counter with the fact that he’ll be 31 when the season begins and is coming off of a relatively mediocre season in which he recorded just one interception. It’s all about how much is left in the tank for one of the best Broncos ever.
2. Byron Jones – The former first-round pick figures to be one of the most-popular players available in free agency, as he’s considered a legit shutdown corner. But whoever decides to give him a multiple-year deal worth $15 million per year is going to have to wrap their head around the fact that Jones has posted a grand total of two interceptions during his five years in Dallas. Two. Total. Even though there’s more to the position that hauling in picks, that’s a staggering stat for a player who is about to cash in.
3. Logan Ryan – Ryan is coming off of a very productive season in Tennessee, which is perfect timing as he hits the open market. With the Titans in 2019, he hauled in four interceptions, racked up 113 tackles and posted 4.5 sacks. Those numbers show that the 29-year-old cornerback is a versatile player who isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the action against the run. He’s also a someone who has experienced a lot of winning, both in New England and Tennessee; that’s something teams may want to tap into.
4. Jimmy Smith – The last four years in Baltimore weren’t great for Smith, as he missed a grand total of 20 games during that time. As a result, his production suffered. Battling through injuries, Smith only picked off six passes during that stretch, not exactly the type of production expected from a cornerback on a big-money contract. After nine seasons with the Ravens, it’s probably time for a change of scenery. Perhaps that will jumpstart the 32-year-old cornerback’s career.
5. Trae Waynes – The 11th overall pick in 2015 had a solid five years in Minnesota, where he was a starter on one of the league’s best defenses. The last three seasons in particular were his best, as Waynes started in 44 out of 48 games for the Vikings. He has really good coverage skills and isn’t afraid to tackle, which makes him a solid, all-around option on the outside. His nose for the football could be a bit better, as he only has seven interceptions during his five-year career.
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Realistic Options for the Broncos
1. Bashaud Breeland – Breeland has bounced around a bit during his six years in the NFL. After four seasons with the Redskins, he spent a year with the Packers and then the 2019 campaign with the Chiefs. In Kansas City, he proved what he can do when healthy, hauling in two interceptions, recovering a pair of fumbles and racking up 48 tackles during the team’s Super Bowl season. Will that one bounce-back year drive up his value on the open market, however? That’s the big question.
2. Prince Amukamara – Entering his 10th NFL season, Amukamara isn’t the same player he was when he was drafted 19th overall out of Nebraska. That’s part of the reason the Bears decided to part ways with him. However, Amukamara’s connection to Vic Fangio could make him a good fit in Denver. In 2018, when the Broncos head coach was Chicago’s defensive coordinator, Amukamara had one of his best seasons, hauling in three picks, forcing two fumbles and racking up 66 tackles.
3. Eli Apple – It seems like Apple has been around for years, but the former first-round pick will only be 25 years old when the 2020 season begins. He’ll most likely be on his third team, after two-plus years with the Giants and a little more than a season with the Saints. Apple has definitely been a bit of a disappointment during his career, posting only three career interceptions. But at his age, there is still time for him to develop. So he’s a decent gamble as a third cornerback.
