The Denver Broncos have a stacked secondary. Can UDFA cornerback Joshua Pickett earn a spot on the final roster?
The Denver Broncos boast one of the premier secondaries in the National Football League.
Even though it was a strength for the team last season, that didn’t stop Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton from adding more playmakers to the unit. The Broncos drafted Texas standout Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, who will certainly have a large role in his rookie season.
Additionally, the team also made a handful of undrafted free agents into the fold to compete for a spot on the final 53-man roster. One of those is Duke cornerback Joshua Pickett.
Excelling as a defensive back and receiver during his high school days, Pickett committed to Duke where he would spend four seasons. With the Blue Devils, he appeared in 50 games with 23 starts. His best individual campaign came as a senior in 2024 with 38 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 7 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble. Overall, he played a total of 1,969 snaps, registered 101 tackles, 2 interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble.
With a crowded Broncos’ secondary, Pickett has an uphill battle to earn a spot on the team. Does he have a shot at earning a backup corner position? Let’s discuss.
Player Profile
Age: 22 | Experience: Rookie | College: Duke | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 186 pounds
Arm Length: 30-7/8” | Hand Size: 8-7/8” | Broad: 10’6” | Vertical: 36” | Bench: 12 reps
40-yard dash: 4.55 seconds | 3-Cone: 6.86 seconds | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.26 seconds
Joshua Pickett’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos
Pickett’s initial campaign with the Blue Devils in 2021 was learning the ropes as a reserve and special team’s player. As sophomore he would earn a starting job, though would become primarily a backup for most of his junior campaign.
With Manny Diaz taking over as coach last season, Pickett was able to win back a starting role on the outside for the Blue Devils as a senior. He was a consistent contributor in their secondary and one of their defensive leaders. His seven pass breakups in ‘24 ranked Top 5 amongst cornerbacks in the ACC, and his efforts helped the Blue Devils earn a 9-4 record and limit opposing teams to just 6.5 yards per pass attempt.
Pickett doesn’t have world class speed, but he does a good job sticking with his receivers in coverage. In zone defense, he shows good awareness. He possesses quality ability read the quarterback’s eyes and click-and-close on opposing receivers stands out and helps him routinely make plays on the ball. He also has good jumping ability to help get up and deflect passes at higher catch points going against bigger receivers.
In several games I watched, I thought his physicality and tackling in run support was a quality trait of his. In Diaz’s aggressive defense, he really stood out making plays in that respect and even had 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack this past season. He was one player who really stood out in their upset victory over Florida State this past season—the first ever win against their ACC rival.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Pickett has a tough battle ahead to secure a spot on the final roster. The Broncos carried six cornerbacks on their final 53-man roster last season.
Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine, and Ja’Quan McMillian are the incumbent Top 5 at the position. If they opt to keep the same number of cornerbacks as last season, that leaves one spot available for the taking. Damarri Mathis, Quinton Newsome, and Jaden Robinson will be Pickett’s main competition for the presumptive sixth and final spot.
In order to make the final roster, Pickett will have to impress tremendously during training camp and the preseason—especially on special teams. All things considered, he seems more likely to be a candidate for the practice squad for continued development. Barring some sort of unforeseen injury or trade, an undrafted player earning a spot in the Broncos’ secondary seems quite unlikely.