The Denver Broncos wrapped an offense-heavy second day of the NFL draft with a defensive selection, picking Boston College cornerback Isaac Yiadom with the 99th overall pick Friday night.
With the second-to-last pick of the third round, Denver went with Yiadom to help fill the vacancy it left after trading to the Los Angeles Rams last month. Yiadom totaled seven pass breakups, two interceptions and 53 tackles last season and possesses a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame.
Last season, Denver ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (200.6) while openly boasting about its “No Fly Zone.”
The Broncos took sure-handed SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton with the 40th overall pick, and selected Oregon workhorse running back Royce Freeman at 71st overall.
Barring trades, Denver will wrap up its draft with two fourth-round picks and two fifth-round selections on Saturday. Positions the Broncos could target include offensive line and quarterback.
About Isaac Yiadom
The Broncos alleviated concerns over trading Aqib Talib last month to the Los Angeles Rams by selecting cornerback Isaac Yiadom with the No. 99 pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Denver has now selected a corner in back-to-back drafts after it picked Brendan Langley at No. 101 (third round) a year ago.
Size: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
College: Boston College
Age: 21
Three things to know
• Yiadom started all 13 games last season at cornerback with 53 tackles and seven pass breakups for a unit that ranked third nationally in pass efficiency defense. Yiadom recorded his second career interception at Clemson in September.
• Yiadom was formerly the third-ranked recruit in the state of Massachusetts by ESPN out of Doherty Memorial High School. He chose Boston College over scholarship offers from Connecticut, Holy Cross and Bryant.
• Yiadom played for Broncos’ coaches at the Senior Bowl.
Scouting report
Strengths: Tall with long arms. … Tough enough. … Plays stronger than listed weight when jamming receiver. … Has some success bodying and smothering receivers from their release. … Positions himself on receiver’s hip when pacing down the field.
Weaknesses: Posts up with knock-kneed stance from press. … Backpedal is tall and tight in off man coverage. … Sluggish to open and sprint versus speed. … Could face deep ball repercussions if he doesn’t start his sprint early.
*Information provided by NFL.com.
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