7 Possible Denver Broncos targets in the 2019 NFL Draft

Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

At one point, during the heyday of the “No Fly Zone”, the Broncos had arguably the league’s best secondary. Those days are long gone. Tramaine Brock and Bradley Roby’s pending free agency doesn’t help matters in the Denver defensive backfield either.

Roby’s performance slipped in 2018, as noted by Pro Football Focus on Twitter. Still, he’ll likely command a big contract — but the Broncos aren’t likely to pay him. So grabbing a corner is a necessity and there’s an option in the first round.

For a while, Deandre Baker was one of the most underrated corners in 2019 NFL Draft class. At 5-11, 180 pounds, there are some concerns about his weight/frame. However, the Georgia product has the length and press skills that make him an ideal fit for Vic Fangio’s defensive system.

Fangio utilizes an aggressive Cover-2 scheme. Since Baker’s best trait is at the line of scrimmage with quick strong hands and a powerful strike, he’d be perfect on the boundary under Denver’s new head coach. Moreover, Baker is disruptive force when he clicks and closes on the ball. He also takes on blocks and plays the run effectively. He’s a tenacious corner with a solid floor who can play right away.

In a trade-down scenario, the Broncos could grab Baker somewhere in the teens. The cornerback class is thin, so the Broncos may not have the luxury of moving down if they want to nab the former Bulldog.