During the Denver Broncos’ 30-9 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers, second-year cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine demonstrated his growing presence on the field by being consistently near key plays and nearly securing an interception, which was negated by a penalty. Despite being a fifth-round pick, Abrams-Draine’s impact is clear as he prepares for the 2024 season.

Although currently positioned deep on Denver’s cornerback depth chart, Abrams-Draine would likely start for most NFL teams, highlighting the Broncos’ strong cornerback group. Head coach Sean Payton discussed how Abrams-Draine’s intelligence and ball skills have contributed to his early success in the league.

He’s smart, he has really good ball skills. He’s one of those players that, someone brought it up at the beginning of training camp; the tail end of last year, his play and his confidence,

Payton said of Abrams-Draine.

You can have a stretch of four weeks, and all of a sudden, that can carry over into the next year. He’s someone that prefers to play off and keep the ball in front, break on the ball. I like his ball skills, and I like between the ears. He’s very, very smart.

Abrams-Draine’s Progression and Role During Rookie Year

Abrams-Draine’s rookie season saw limited playing time until an injury to Riley Moss created an opportunity late in the year. Initially, the Broncos turned to veteran Levi Wallace due to his experience, but after Wallace struggled against teams’ receivers like Jerry Jeudy, coaches shifted more focus to Abrams-Draine.

When Abrams-Draine played, he helped stabilize the Broncos’ defense, though defensive coordinator Vance Joseph did not immediately assign him a full-time starting role, sharing playing time with Damarri Mathis. Even after Moss returned, Abrams-Draine remained a backup but had proven his value to the coaching staff and was gaining momentum heading into his second year.

Pat Surtain II Highlights Abrams-Draine’s Competitive Edge

Denver’s veteran cornerback Pat Surtain II has taken Abrams-Draine under his wing, noting the young player’s consistency and ability to perform under pressure.

I think he’s a gamer, man. He comes in, he does the right stuff necessary,

said Surtain on Tuesday.

When you’ve got a guy like that who comes in the game, he’s going to make plays like that all over the field. He’s very consistent with his play, very smart. So it’s not a surprise that he’s this good this early.

Coaches and teammates often praise Abrams-Draine’s football intelligence, which they consider critical to his success and playmaking ability. This was echoed by Payton when discussing cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, who similarly excels because the ball tends to find him due to his smarts and ball skills.

He’s smart. Again, there are certain players, the ball finds them,

Payton said of McMillian.

If the ball finds players, that generally means they’re pretty smart. Then you have to have ball skills. You can be pretty smart with bad hands, and the ball’s going to find you, you’re just not going to catch it. He has those skill sets.

Abrams-Draine shares these traits, suggesting why he has quickly made an impression despite limited playing time.

Depth at Cornerback Reflects Broncos’ Strong Defensive Strategy

Though Abrams-Draine’s promise is evident, the Broncos selected Jahdae Barron in the first round, a decision partly aimed at preemptively bolstering their cornerback depth. Moss, a third-round pick in 2023, still holds a place on the roster with two years left on his contract, while McMillian is set for restricted free agency after 2025. Surtain’s long-term contract further secures the cornerback lineup.

With injuries always looming in football, the Broncos’ strong depth chart explains why Abrams-Draine currently ranks fifth among their cornerbacks. This depth underlines the team’s strategy to maintain resilience and competitiveness on defense moving forward, with Abrams-Draine well positioned to increase his role as the 2024 season progresses.