NFL DRAFT: Wyoming’s Andrew Wingard plays like his (long, blond) hair is on fire at safety.
BRONCOS STATUS
On the roster: Cornerbacks — Chris Harris, Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan, De’Vante Bausby, Isaac Yiadom, Horace Richardson, Linden Stephens and Trey Johnson. Safeties — Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Dymonte Thomas, Trey Marshall, Shamarko Thomas, Su’a Cravens and Jamal Carter.
Level of need: High. The Broncos have not been connected with any of the top defensive backs, but Harris’ contract situation (last year of deal) and the possibility of Jackson moving between cornerback and safety should force them to consider a cornerback at No. 10 or at least in the top three rounds.
Top five cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Washington At 6-foot and 190 pounds, has good size to play physical in coverage. … Third-year sophomore played 20 games for Huskies and had seven interceptions among his 27 pass breakups. … Limited to six games as freshman (foot injury). … Turned 21 in January. … Second-team All-American as sophomore. … Ran the 40 in 4.55 seconds at the combine. … “Byron’s a great player,” teammate Taylor Rapp said. “He’s one of the toughest, most competitive football players I’ve seen and one of the (best) lockdown cornerbacks I’ve seen.”
Greedy Williams, LSU Declared for draft as a thirdyear sophomore. … In 25 games, had eight interceptions among 22 pass break-ups. … Secondteam All-American in 2018 (33 tackles, two interceptions). … Listed at 6-2, 185 at the combine, and his 4.37-second time in the 40 was tied for second-best among cornerbacks. … Reportedly did not take any predraft visits. … “(An NFL team) is going to get a guy who works hard, a guy dedicated to winning, definitely puts the team first, always grew up playing football and a man who wants to come in and have a big impact on the team,” Williams said. Deandre Baker, Georgia Played 51 games (34 starts), finishing with 116 tackles, seven interceptions and 31 total passes defensed. … First-team All-American in 2018 (two interceptions) and won Jim Thorpe Award as nation’s top defensive back. … Defensive coordinator at Georgia was Mel Tucker, now the coach at Colorado. … At 5-11, 193, ran the 40 in 4.52 seconds at the combine. … “I was pretty close to coming out (after 2017), but I decided to stay because 2017 was my first year of starting a full season so I felt like I had something to prove,” Baker said.
Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
A draft season riser who could go late in first round. … Ran the 40 in 4.51 seconds at the combine (6foot/192). … Started career at FCS Presbyterian (five interceptions and 29 pass break-ups in 33 games). Connected to Temple through Presbyterian assistant coach who knew Owls coach Geoff Collins. … First-team league for Temple (12 games, 47 tackles, two interceptions). … “I watch a lot of great corners, but I feel like we all have different body types and different athletic abilities,” Ya-Sin said. “It’s kind of hard for me to mold my game after any one player.”
Julian Love, Notre Dame Listed at 6-foot, 195, ran the 40 in 4.54 seconds at the combine. … Declared for draft as third-year junior. … Played 38 games for Irish, posting 176 tackles, five interceptions and school record 44 pass break-ups. … First-team All-American in 2018. … Missed most of CFP semifinal game against Clemson because of head injury. … “Julian is a great leader because he espouses all the things that we talk about relative to the traits that you need and he’s a great one to model for all of our young players,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said last year.
Tuesday: Special teams.