Broncos select OSU corner Bradley Roby 31st overall

Last updated: May 9, 2014 12:18 AM

With the 31st pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Broncos have selected Ohio State corner Bradley Roby.

The 5-11, 194-pounder ran a 4.39-second forty at the combine, good for the fourth best time among corners.

In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Roby tallied 179 total tackles (7.5 for loss), eight interceptions (two for scores), and 41 passes defensed.

He also recovered two blocked punts for touchdowns, and a fumbled punt for another one.

The Georgia native blocked two punts during his sophomore season.

Denver has now replaced Champ Bailey and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with Aqib Talib and Roby, while Chris Harris is recovering from ACL surgery. Kayvon Webster and Tony Carter figure to be next on the depth chart.

Several mock drafts had Roby going to Denver.

Here's what Doug Farrar writes about the Broncos' newest corner:

In today’s NFL, more is expected of cornerbacks than ever before. The best among them can shut down the best opposing receiver every week, and while I’m not sure that Roby has the pure size to get that done, he’s got enough on the ball in a potential sense to play at an All-Pro level. With some pro defenses playing nickel and dime coverage far more than half the time, I could see Roby as a great No. 2 outside cornerback who could work into the slot on a regular basis and just shut slot receivers down. He might struggle against bigger players, but he also plays bigger than he is. And if he can regain his 2012 form, Roby will be a steal for some lucky NFL defensive coordinator.

Ostensibly, Roby slid to Denver due to a pair of arrests - the first after a bar fight last summer, and the second a recent OVI charge that got pled down to a lesser infraction.

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Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

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