So you're the Denver Broncos, and you've drafted Iowa cornerback Riley Moss! Congratulations on this 83rd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. You're sure to have questions, and we here at Go Iowa Awesome are here to answer them for you.
Do We Have to Ask?
We know what you're thinking, and yes, it's true: a cornerback who's... from the state of Iowa.
That was surely what you were thinking, right?
Moss has been one of the most fascinating development stories of the Hawkeye secondary under head coach Kirk Ferentz — and maybe even regardless of position. Moss came in as a lightly recruited prospect from Ankeny, Iowa — a suburb of Des Moines — and frankly looked a bit over his head as an underclassman in limited snaps. To his credit he never played scared, but success (in both coverage and tackling) was a bit tough to come by early.
Yet Moss kept earning his way onto the field, drawing tough assignments, and developed into one of the most feared cornerbacks in the Big Ten. Moss was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten defensive back, including winning the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year Award in 2021 en route to a third-team All-American nod. His production and individual accolades slipped a bit in 2022, but at no discernible cost to the Iowa defense.
So What's He Good At?
Moss has the size to battle with most NFL receivers at 6'1" and 193 pounds, and that's with a good deal of sizing up and toughening up through his career. He's gone from bouncing off bigger running backs as a freshman to being a genuine asset in run support when he's able to attack downhill, and he will pop pads without hesitation if given a free shot.
His ball-tracking skills are sensational, and he will punish an errant throw made his way. Moss' hands were among the surest in the Iowa secondary during his career, as were his open field skills. Moss took 3 of his 11 career interceptions back for touchdowns, and with NFL down-by-contact rules, he could spring a return off an athletic play that he might not have been able to at Iowa.
In fact, many pundits have suggested Moss' more natural position in the NFL might be safety* for that reason — he's at his best when he can play "centerfield" on a deep, looping throw, and will usually track his way to his spot as well as the receiver, if not better.
*Worth noting here that, in fact, most Iowa cornerbacks end up at safety in the NFL due to their coverage roles in coordinator Phil Parker's base defense.
What Needs Improving?
Moss is better at contesting the catch than contesting the route, and he may find himself challenged in press coverage or in the slot by physical receivers.
Additionally, Moss will simply see fewer disastrous throws at the next level than he did in college, and it's harder to punish mistakes when the quarterbacks aren't making them anymore. Many of Moss' highlights above are opportunities that will almost never happen at the pro level.
In fact, by the end of 2022, Moss was an easier cornerback to throw against than teammate Cooper DeJean. It helps that DeJean is already sensationally good, but Moss did give up some plays in 1-on-1 situations when the ball was well-placed.
Moss will have to find ways to be productive — which is to say, disruptive — against good throws and good receivers.
What's a Realistic Standard of Success For Him?
If Moss works his way into the starting lineup — or whatever permutations of the secondary rotation that get him onto the field for more than 50% of the snaps — then this was a draft pick well worth making.
As mentioned before, it's not entirely clear if Moss projects better as a cornerback or safety — but if he can turn that ambiguity into versatility, he'll be even more valuable in the Bronco secondary, and almost certainly quicker onto the field as he develops.
Anything Else We Need to Know?
Moss had a quick stretch where he embraced a — and honestly this doesn't feel unfair to say — dirtbag aesthetic. Maybe he had just watched Season 3 or 4 of Stranger Things and embraced his inner Billy, who's to say. But if you Bronco fans play your cards right, this look might just come back to the secondary room:
