The Denver Broncos hired their new general manager and officially turned a new page. George Paton succeeds John Elway and one of GM’s top assets is the 9th overall choice the team holds in the first round of the 2021 draft of the NFL.
The Broncos could follow a number of directions in choice 9, but in the much-anticipated mock draft version 1.0 of NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (a former scout), the prospect that many draftniks see as the top cornerback in the class falls right into the lap of Denver.
Choice 9: Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, CB
School: Virginia Tech | Year: Júnior (RS)
I think Farley is incredibly talented and fulfills Vic Fangio’s need for defense.
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No doubt Farley would make a lot of sense for Denver, but I would be surprised if Patrick Surtain II, from Alabama, was the first corner of the board. Jeremiah made Surtain go to Philly in choice 6.
We won’t know Farley’s exact measurements until the NFL Scouting Combine (however, it looks exactly), but his school lists him as 1.80m and 197lbs. One concern for the talented corner is that he chose not to participate in the 2020 college football season, so when his boots enter the NFL regular season grass, it will be due to a two-year absence.
Farley is very, and I mean, very talented. And it would be an ideal fit for Fangio’s defense, who emphasizes the area’s coverage propensities, disciplined eyes and good instincts. Farley could thrive on a press-centric scheme, but Fangio’s exclusive system would also fit him well.
But Fangio’s scheme also demands to be fought by the corners. And this is ‘non-negotiable’.
Tackling is undoubtedly Farley’s least developed tool in the toolkit, but he could be trained by Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, the latter of whom specializes in defenders. Farley comes with the concern of not participating, where fitness and fitness should be questioned, but he also has a torn ACL on his injury jacket he suffered in 2017.
However, Farley is long, athletic and physical. It wouldn’t take long to understand Fangio’s defense and brilliance.
In two years at Virginia Tech, Farley totaled six interceptions and 19 pass separations. If he landed in Denver, he could quickly assume the role of No. 1 cornerback, which Paton might be looking for if, in fact, the rumors were true and the Broncos took the bait with AJ Bouye.
Farley, Surtain and Jaycee Horn of South Carolina are the corners to watch for when the Broncos accelerates in the April draft. Depending on how the board falls.
For a more in-depth analysis of Farley and all of the Broncos’ most likely options in choice 9, check out Mile High Huddle’s 2021 NFL Draft Primer which debuted on Friday night. It is hot outside the printer and embedded below.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.