Broncos waive CB Michael Ojemudia

Denver sent Ojemudia to waivers Tuesday, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Despite being an 11-game starter as a rookie, Ojemudia did not factor into the next two Broncos defenses much. One season remains on Ojemudia’s rookie contract.

Chosen 77th overall out of Iowa during John Elway‘s final draft as GM, Ojemudia suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for almost all of the 2021 season. 

The Broncos had assembled a deeper group of corners in 2021, drafting Patrick Surtain II and signing Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller to team with slot cog Bryce Callahan. 

This year’s collection was slightly thinner, with Callahan and Fuller leaving in free agency. But Ojemudia could not earn much playing time.

Ojemudia suffered a dislocated elbow during the preseason and did not return until Week 6. The Broncos used one of their eight IR activations on the would-be No. 4 corner, but it ended up being fourth-round rookie Damarri Mathis who replaced Darby after his Week 5 ACL tear. Ojemudia played just one defensive snap this season.

With Darby’s 2023 status uncertain due to his latest injury and the Broncos having the opportunity to save $10M by releasing him in the final year of his contract, Mathis — a top-50 corner as a rookie, per Pro Football Focus — should be expected to compete for a key role again next season. 

Surtain is signed through 2024, with a fifth-year option that will undoubtedly be exercised locking the Pro Bowl starter in through 2025, and Callahan slot successor K’Waun Williams signed for one more season.