Broncos encouraged to trade one of their top cornerbacks to NFC East team

Broncos encouraged to trade one of their top cornerbacks to NFC East team originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Denver Broncos recently made a trade, sending wide receiver Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints. Should the team now consider a move on the defensive side of the ball?

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report feels that one of the cornerbacks could be moved. The Broncos have Pat Surtain II and first-round pick Jahdae Barron, as well as some impressive depth behind them. That is why Kay proposes that the Broncos send Riley Moss to the Dallas Cowboys. In return, the Broncos receive a fourth-round pick in next year's draft.

"The Broncos have one of the NFL's better defenses and are loaded with talent at the cornerback position. The team could clear up roster space and add future assets by dealing Riley Moss—a 2023 third-rounder—to the Cowboys this offseason.

While Moss is a quality corner who emerged as a starter last year, he's a bit redundant following Denver's decision to draft Jahdae Barron. The first-rounder looked extremely sharp during his preseason debut and seems to be the long-term No. 2 corner across from Pat Surtain II in this defense.

With Dallas' secondary facing an uncertain future due to DaRon Bland's impending free agency and Trevon Diggs' injury history, it would make sense to send a Day 2 pick to Denver to acquire a young, cost-controlled defensive back to build around", wrote Kay. 

This wouldn't be a bad trade for the Broncos, as a fourth-round pick is a solid return for Moss. However, the idea of the Broncos starting Surtain and Moss on the outside with Barron as the nickel corner might be the optimal way to go this season, meaning it's not a deal that the team needs to make. 

READ:Broncos must find a way to keep these four players

With that said, if the team plans to start Barron on the outside and keep Ja'Quan McMillian as the starting slot corner, then dealing Moss could be seen as acceptable. 

The depth to #Broncos defense continues to be their strength. Riley Moss spoke about his personal growth as a player and the addition of Jahdae Barron. #BroncosCamppic.twitter.com/yPwmkkq1Ou

— Nick Ferguson (@NickFerguson_25) July 30, 2025

The Broncos don't need to feel like they have to trade players away just because they are deep at certain positions. The Vele trade, which fetched a fourth and seventh-round choice in return, was a great deal. But Moss should only be traded if the team doesn't see him as a starter this coming season. If he is, he needs to stick around what could be the league's best defense in 2026, and McMillian would still be around as a terrific depth piece. 

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