Denver Broncos get undrafted gem in CB Essang Bassey

The Denver Broncos followed up an outstanding 2020 NFL Draft class by signing Wake Forest CB Essang Bassey as a top undrafted free agent.

The Denver Broncos have a very rich, very proud tradition of signing notable undrafted free agents who would go on to become stars in the NFL.

In recent years, the Broncos have found players like Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay, Pro Bowl pass rusher Shaquil Barrett (who made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay but was very good in Denver for the first portion of his career), and Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

The Broncos’ success of finding gems on the undrafted free agent heap is not limited to those players or even the last decade. One of the best wide receivers in team history — Rod Smith — was an undrafted player in the 90s for Denver.

There are many others through the years for the Broncos, and this team has seemingly a tradition of at least one undrafted player making the team every single season. Last year, pass rusher Malik Reed was a big-time standout for the Broncos in the offseason and preseason play.

This year? It could be Wake Forest cornerback Essang Bassey.

Although he’s only 5-foot-9, 191 pounds, Bassey has a pretty filled out frame, excellent speed (4.46 in the 40-yard dash), and outstanding explosiveness (39.5-inch vertical jump, 128-inch broad jump).

He’s also going to a situation in Denver where he will be playing in Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell’s defense, one that utilizes plenty of zone coverage. This will allow Bassey to be an inside-outside player at the next level despite his size.

He did plenty of both man and zone coverage at Wake Forest, but his speed and ability to break on the football stood out among all of his traits.

Bassey made a whopping 50 plays on the football — five interceptions, 45 pass deflections — in four seasons (48 games) at Wake Forest where he was a team captain and one of the top corners in the ACC.

For over a year, scouts and pundits have been projecting Bassey to move into the slot in the NFL. That just so happens to be the spot vacated by Chris Harris Jr. in Denver now that he is off to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Broncos have a variety of young cornerbacks on their roster right now, but given their depth issues last season and the fact that no one on the roster currently outside of AJ Bouye and Bryce Callahan has really established themselves in the NFL, Bassey has a decent shot.

He’s going to need to make a quick transition inside to the nickel where he will compete with Bryce Callahan and Duke Dawson, but the Broncos will undoubtedly keep an open mind and let the best player take the job this offseason.

Bassey has his work cut out for him, but his experience, production, and athletic traits indicate a likely spot on an NFL roster.