The Denver Broncos caught Kris Abrams-Draine by surprise on Day 3 of the NFL draft last Saturday.
The Missouri cornerback had only a couple of meetings with Denver during the pre-draft process, but that didn’t stop the organization from selecting him in the fifth round.
While Abrams-Draine’s conversations with Denver were limited, his game tape was enough to sell general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton on the idea he could be a valuable asset in Denver’s secondary.
A wide receiver-turned-cornerback, Abrams-Draine has solid ball skills and versatility to play inside and out. And with uncertainty surrounding Denver’s depth at outside cornerback, he has a chance to compete for a significant role right away.
“I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity,” Abrams-Draine said. “I waited on it all the time. I kept faith.”
For Missouri cornerbacks coach Al Pogue, the foundation of Abrams-Draine’s success in the league will be his playmaking skills. During his four-year career with the Tigers, Abrams-Draine had a nose for the ball, recording 33 pass breakups and seven picks in 39 games.
In 2023, Abrams-Draine recorded a career-best four interceptions and averaged 1.3 pass breakups per game, ranking first in the SEC and fifth in the nation.
“We always said that we want to finish on or with the ball,” said Pogue, who has been at Missouri since 2022. “If Kris could put his hands on the ball, it was more than likely that he would come away with it.”
Pogue said Abrams-Draine has a good understanding of spacing, timing and knowing opposing wide receiver routes. That’s because he was a receiver not too long ago at Spanish Fort High School. He closed out his prep career playing quarterback in 2018, totaling 723 passing yards and rushing for 1,745.
At Missouri, Abrams-Draine played five games at receiver as a true freshman before transitioning to defensive back in 2021. The move was seamless as he recorded four tackles and two passes defended in the season-opener against Central Michigan.
He finished the season with a team-best seven pass breakups and three picks in 13 games (10 starts).
“I feel like (cornerback) is more (of an opportunity that) I can show my athletic ability,” Abrams-Draine said. “I just feel like it was an easier transition because I’m a competitive person, so I never turn down a challenge.”
Abrams-Draine’s versatility helped make him attractive to the Broncos. He played 664 snaps at outside corner, 72 in the slot, 16 as a free safety and 60 in the box in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Tigers put him in the slot on their nickel packages to open up their defensive playbook, according to Pogue. He was also used in the return game, totaling 603 yards on 29 kick returns at Missouri.
Even though Abrams-Draine was drafted a year after Denver took Riley Moss in the third round, Paton stayed true to his belief that a team can never have enough pass rushers and cornerbacks.
The question is what Abrams-Draine’s role will look like as a rookie. He has all the tools to be a solid rotational player right away. But in Denver, he has the opportunity to have a larger role. While Ja’Quan McMillian seemed to have solidified himself as the team’s primary nickel cornerback, Abrams-Draine could put himself in the mix to be a starting outside cornerback. Damarri Mathis has something to prove after getting benched in 2023. Moss is inexperienced after barely seeing defensive snaps as a rookie. And newly-signed cornerback Levi Wallace hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2021.
Abrams-Draine didn’t expect the Broncos to call his phone last Saturday. But now that he is in Denver, there’s a chance he can make his impact felt immediately.
“I think it’s going to work out really well (for him),” Pogue said.
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