If there’s one position on the Denver Broncos where they don’t need an upgrade, it’s cornerback. Between Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, the Broncos have two Pro-Bowl caliber options right there, and Bradley Roby isn’t far behind.
Still, that doesn’t mean John Elway can go into free agency and the offseason feeling comfortable. Denver is one injury away from going from the league’s best secondary to just a very good secondary; they’re two injuries away from league average.
Depth, in football, is imperative. You cannot have enough good football players.
Now, that doesn’t mean the Broncos have to go out and sign some big-ticket guy like Janoris Jenkins or Sean Smith, but an under-the-radar guy who has the chance of over performing his contract would be a great fourth cornerback.
The biggest problem for the Broncos, though, will be finding a guy who’s willing to come to a team knowing that he’s the fourth guy on the depth chart. And because of that, the likelihood that they sign anyone of note is relatively small, especially considering that they have a lot of other items on their to-do list.
Nonetheless, here are five guys who would be interesting to at least consider:
5. Morris Claiborne
EXPERIENCE: 4 years DRAFT: 1st round (6th overall) out of LSU
CAREER STARTS: 36 HONORS: None
’15 CAP HIT: $5.2 M PREDICTED ’16 CAP HIT: $2-3 M
LAST YEAR: 37 total tackles; 5 passes defensed
BEST YEAR: 55 total tackles; 1 interception; 8 passes defensed; 1 forced fumble; 1 fumble recovery; 1 touchdown (2012)
WHY THE BRONCOS COULD BE INTERESTED: Well, the truth is that I’m not so sure why anyone would be interested in Morris Claiborne. Since coming out of LSU, he’s been a colossal disappointment, dropping out of favor at times in Dallas and underperforming at every turn. Pro Football Focus had him graded out as their 104th best cornerback in the NFL last season (38.5), which is not great given that there are just 64 starting cornerbacks in the league.
Then again, he is just 26 years old, and there’s a reason he was drafted sixth overall just a few years ago.
Is that enough to entice the Broncos? Sure, especially if you’re signing him to be your fourth cornerback. The risk is low, and given his significantly disappointing career to this point, so is the price.