Former Texas Longhorns safety Caden Sterns was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
He joins an already packed secondary with fellow draftmates Patrick Surtain II, Jamar Johnson and Kary Vincent, as well as Kyle Fuller, Justin Simmons, Ronald Darby, Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan and Duke Dawson.
Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is a defensive backs savant, having coached the position for five other franchises, so the Broncos adding Sterns was no accident. Players like Fuller and Jackson are either over or near 30 years old and the Broncos want to create competition among the secondary while simultaneously getting younger.
Sterns has the ability to play safety, but that’s probably why they drafted Jamar Johnson, a better pure free safety to back up Justin Simmons. Sterns’ best ability will be to play in the nickel.
He’s got the speed and athleticism to play near the line of scrimmage as the fifth defensive back, or as a potential third safety when the team goes in a dime set with six defensive backs. His versatility will be key.
With both Kyle Fuller and Justin Simmons the clear starters at both the slot corner and free safety positions, he’s going to show he can rotate in both roles and could develop into the starting nickel corner down the line.