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<\/a><\/p>\nDENVER, CO – JANUARY 25: Pat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos defends in coverage during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
Patrick Surtain II is the best cover corner in the NFL. Quarterbacks throw at him to their peril. He\u2019s an All-Pro player who is in the prime of his career and a football player in every sense of the word.<\/p>\n
Even with an injury in 2026, Surtain showed that his impact on the game is enormous.<\/p>\n
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 21: Riley Moss #21 of the Denver Broncos defends during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Riley Moss gets way too much flak for pass interference flags in my mind. Early in the season, he did show some technique issues that were to blame for some of them (though not all by any stretch of the imagination). He cleaned that up, and as the season wore on, he was an absolute beast in coverage on the outside.<\/p>\n Moss can pass rush, attack the run, and has the most passes defended on the team in 2025. The only thing I didn\u2019t like was some of the angles of attack he used late in the season that gave up some big plays. The good news is that he\u2019s a young player who has yet to hit his ceiling and has done nothing but show constant improvement in his time in the NFL.<\/p>\n DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 17: Ja\u2019Quan McMillian #29 of the Denver Broncos celebrates during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Perry Knotts\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Some might say that Ja\u2019Quan McMillian is the best slot corner in the NFL. I could technically argue that point, but why would I? McMillian is a hell of a playmaking corner for the Broncos. He plays big against tight ends in coverage. He takes the ball away (AMIRIGHT, Bills fans?). He\u2019s a willing and productive pass rusher. He blows up runs in the backfield. DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 21: Jahdae Barron #23 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Brooke Sutton\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n The Broncos spent a #1 draft pick on Jahdae Barron in 2025. Barron did see the field at times and looked good when he was able to get on the field. I think we\u2019ll likely see him rotate in more in 2026. He\u2019s likely to have a nice 2nd-year jump in play and likely will have every opportunity to earn play time given his draft status if he can show he can play at the level that McMillian does. One play the Broncos can make in 2026 would be to trade Riley Moss and let Barron start on the outside, which doesn\u2019t sound completely crazy to me, even with how highly I think of Moss\u2019 game.<\/p>\n This cornerback unit is one of the key reasons this defense is a top-5 unit in the NFL. They smother the pass every week of play. There\u2019s obvious depth to the unit, as well as we saw them play without Surtain in weeks 9 – 12 and were able to hold it down. McMillian is the one key guy who could possibly leave this offseason, as another team may be willing to give up a draft pick to sign him away from the Broncos. Even then, the Broncos have Barron ready to go, with Kris Abrams-Draine still on the roster and developing well.<\/p>\n PlayerSnapsTkl (combined)SacksTFLQb HitsInterceptionsPass DefendedTalanoa Hufanga1004106263011Brandon Jones889780.50217P.J. Locke3051601003 DENVER , CO – DECEMBER 21: Talanoa Hufanga (9) of the Denver Broncos walks on the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, December 21, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/MediaNews Group\/The Denver Post via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Talanoa Hunfanga was the shining star for the Broncos in free agency from 2025. He is a playmaker at safety and upgraded the defense instantly with his presence on the team. If he worked a bit on catching passes, he\u2019d be rated a 5, as he\u2019d have multiple interceptions to add to his resume from 2025. Outside of that, he\u2019s an All-Pro safety who plays the run and the pass at an excellent level.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
The Broncos drafted a talented corner in 2025 who hardly sees the field because McMillian (who made the team as an undrafted college free agent) is just too good.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n