Clayton: Could Broncos look to trade away a veteran cornerback?

One of the stories that started to circulate Friday is that teams are calling the Denver Broncos about cornerbacks.

That’s understandable. First-round pick Pat Surtain II has clearly been one of the key stars of training camp. He looks so good that more and more people around the league think he could be defensive rookie of the year. Surtain and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys would be the two early favorites, but Surtain’s issue is how he can get onto the field.

The Broncos have three good cornerbacks — Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan. Because Surtain’s reputation as a player is growing, it’s only natural for teams to check in to see if the Broncos would give up one of their veterans.

You kind of get the feeling Callahan could be the one who might get some trade considerations. He’s one of the best slot corners in the league. General manager George Paton thought Ronald Darby was the best cornerback in free agency, so you would think he would shy away from trading him. Kyle Fuller played for Vic Fangio in Chicago, so he would have a good chance of staying. Callahan has the most experience in the Broncos defense, but can he keep Surtain off the field?

We’re heading into that period where trades are going to considered. The Pittsburgh Steelers just traded with Jacksonville for linebacker Joe Schobert. Obviously there is no time table for a trade, and Paton may keep the top four corners. It should be interesting.