Broncos have one of the “most improved” secondaries
May 7, 2021, 2:07 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm
An article by Pro Football Focus is praising the Denver Broncos for their addition to the secondary this offseason, ranking them the second-most improved in the league.
🔸Browns
🔸Broncos
🔸Giants✍️@PFF_Linsey's most improved secondaries this offseason⬇️https://t.co/sg53TEGbzH
— PFF (@PFF) May 7, 2021
The Cleveland Brown are the only other team that received a higher grade for their offseason acquisitions.
Cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby were brought in during free agency, but the Broncos didn’t stop there. The team then drafted cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Kary Vincent Jr. and safeties Caden Sterns and Jamar Johnson.
PFF’s Ben Linsey writes that the Broncos have been following a blueprint this offseason that may find them success.
“Denver added Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby in free agency, presumably to be the team’s starting duo outside,” Linsey wrote. “Fuller has ties to head coach Vic Fangio from his time in Chicago and has been one of the NFL’s more productive cornerbacks in single coverage over the past five seasons. Darby is coming off a bounceback season in Washington, marking his fifth 68.0-plus season grade in six NFL seasons.
“The Broncos weren’t content to stop there, though. They proceeded to add four defensive backs in the 2021 NFL Draft, including spending their top-10 pick on Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II. Surtain has a strong case for being the highest-floor cornerback in this class thanks to his consistent technique, experience at Alabama, good size and strong athletic testing.”
Five cornerbacks played at least 250 defensive snaps for Denver in 2020: Michael Ojemudia, Bryce Callahan, A.J. Bouye, Essang Bassey and De’Vante Bausby.
Linsey praised the Broncos for the new additions and said the team should withstand any injury that comes their way.
“Even if Darby or Callahan miss time due to injury — as they have been liable to do throughout their careers — Denver has enough depth to not miss a beat defensively,” Linsey wrote.