Two proved insufficient for Broncos general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton on Friday night.
Denver traded back into the third round to take Iowa cornerback Riley Moss at No. 83. In order to acquire the pick, they sent No. 108 this year and a 2024 third-round pick to Seattle. The Broncos had two third-rounders for 2024, their own and New Orleans’ as part of the trade for the right to hire Payton earlier this year.
Moss, a first-team All-American in 2021, had 11 career interceptions for Iowa over five collegiate seasons. His best, a four-interception season, came in 2021. That year, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
“A big part of that is film and a big part of that is just being a football player,” Moss said. “I think I’m a kid thatap decently smart but also has the physical traits to go out there and make plays.”
Moss certainly has those. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, he ran 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Combine and logged a 39-inch vertical jump. His Relative Athletic Score of 9.68 is comparable to the 9.72 that 2022 fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis posted last year.
“(Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker) does a great job of teaching football,” Moss said. “Not so much – he obviously makes you a better defensive back — but learning how to watch film, learning tendencies, little things that a lot of people overlook can be very helpful and can be an edge. … His approach to be every day and being physically and mentally tough and resilient and strong, those are things that he teaches every day.”
Moss said he met with Broncos representatives at the Senior Bowl and the Combine and also had a 30-visit with the team in Denver in recent weeks.
“I like the entire defensive staff. They’ve got a great defense in Denver and thatap what excited me about being able to visit them for my 30 visit,” Moss said. “I love being part of a defense where everyone does their job, everyone knows what they’re doing and they fly around and make plays. Thatap what Denver does and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Moss is the third player selected by the Broncos, joining Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. at No. 63 overall and Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders at No. 67 overall.
DB Riley Moss
Round/pick: Third Round, No. 83
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 193 pounds
College: Iowa
Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa
Notable: Moss was an outside cornerback for the Hawkeyes, but he can play safety. He was one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten Conference over the past two seasons, totaling 86 tackles, 21 passes defended and five interceptions in 24 games. Moss was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year in 2021 after he totaled four interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes.
