Five 2021 NFL Draft prospects the Denver Broncos can’t live without

The Broncos are in a pretty interesting predicament at the cornerback position. There are pieces in place for the future at the position.

The team likes 2020 third-round pick Michael Ojemudia and they had been very pleased with the progress of nickel corner Essang Bassey, a stud rookie free agent they brought in out of Wake Forest.

Bryce Callahan emerged as one of the best corners in the league in his first year with the Broncos (back from injury, at least) and the team has AJ Bouye under contract for another season.

The cornerback group has been depleted to say the least, with Callahan and Bassey recently landing on IR and Bouye getting dinged for a six-game suspension that will linger two games into the 2021 campaign.

There are other cornerback prospects who will be more coveted in this draft class — Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley and Alabama’s Patrick Surtain look like top 10 picks — but Asante Samuel is exactly the type of player the Broncos have coveted in recent years.

A young player poised beyond his years, Samuel has football in his blood and plays like it.

Instinctive, scrappy, and potentially available for the bargain price of a day two selection, Samuel is a smaller corner but the Broncos have proven you don’t need to be big and long to play well in Vic Fangio’s defense.

Bryce Callahan is exhibit A.

Samuel’s nickel versatility would allow him to play inside or outside for the Broncos immediately, and his 29 career pass breakups and four career interceptions are evidence — this is a player who gets his hands on the ball.