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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Three days before the NFL draft opens, the Denver Broncos continued to try to bolster their depth chart on defense.
The Broncos are expected to sign cornerback Levi Wallace to a one-year deal, sources told ESPN on Monday morning. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the day Monday.
The 28-year-old Wallace — he’ll turn 29 in June — has played in 83 games in his career with the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, with 70 starts. For the Steelers last season he finished with 38 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
The Broncos have an opening in the starting lineup at cornerback, opposite of two-time Pro Bowl selection Pat Surtain II. Last week, Broncos general manager George Paton said Riley Moss, a third-round pick in last year’s draft who played just 23 snaps on defense in his rookie year, and Damarri Mathis, a fourth-round pick in 2022, were in the mix to compete for that opening, but that the team was still on the hunt for help at the position.
“You’re always looking for corners and edge (rushers), value-type positions,” Paton said. “We like our corner group. We have one of the best corners in the league (in Surtain). We like our nickel (Ja’Quan McMillian). We have two young outside guys, Riley and Damarri … They’re younger, so we like the group, (but) you’re always looking to add at those type of positions.”
The Broncos have the No. 12 pick in the first round to go with a long-standing, and glaring need at quarterback. But both Paton and coach Sean Payton have said they will not “force” the decision to use that opening-round selection on a quarterback if the player they want at the position, and that have graded worthy of the spot, is not still on the board.
The team has plenty of needs given it just missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. Outside linebacker, tight end, defensive line, defensive back and depth at tackle are all positions of need for the Broncos.
After the decision to release quarterback Russell Wilson earlier this year brought an $85 million dead-money charge against Denver’s salary cap — $53 million of it in the coming season — the Broncos have taken a far more measured approach in free agency.
Wallace will be the fifth veteran unrestricted free agent signed from another team on a one-year deal, the eighth signed to a one- or two-year deal.