The Denver Broncos have a great starting cornerback in Patrick Surtain II, and Damarri Mathis had a solid rookie season with K'Waun Williams working the slot. However, their depth at the position is lacking, and these two corners out of the Big 10 Conference could be options.
Moss is a fast cornerback and had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl. There is a lot to work with, and he has traits to work as a boundary corner and safety. With his range and recovery athleticism, along with how willing he is as a run defender, safety may be where he is best.
There are issues with his coverage versatility, though more exposure to man concepts could help him develop there, along with the coaching. He is excellent in zone coverage, but he needs to watch how much of a cushion he gives receivers when working in off-coverage. Also, the lack of length isn't ideal for playing in press coverage.
With Vance Joseph coming, who loves cover-1 and cover-2 man, Moss may not be the best fit. However, he could work as a safety next to Justin Simmons in the scheme and give a versatile piece in the secondary that Joseph loves to have. The type of player Moss can be made to work in the scheme and learning under Christian Parker, who is viewed as a riser as a defensive backs coach, could be a great match.
Smith has been a rising corner through the process, and his versatility is a big boost. There is a lot that Smith does that you love to see, but the little things need to be cleaned up. His missed opportunities in college need to be erased in the NFL, as he had four interceptions, but the opportunity for twice that was there. When you see Smith be physical, the results are mostly good, except when he gets grabby in coverage. You want to see the physicality show up more frequently on tape.
Smith is a more natural fit in the scheme than Moss and would be a good prospect to compete for that fourth spot and develop behind the Broncos' corners under Coach Parker. A lot needs to be developed and cleaned up, but he also can be solid insurance if Mathis doesn't take the next step in his development.
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