Despite having two years left on his contract, Denver Broncos cornerback Damarri Mathis is facing a crucial season. At just 25 years old, Mathis was drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Pittsburgh. He was thrust into a starting role as a rookie due to injuries at the position and struggled with a 69.1% completion rate in coverage.
In the beginning of the 2023 season, Mathis continued to struggle, allowing a 74.4% completion rate and three touchdowns before being benched for seven games. As he approaches the end of his rookie contract, Mathis finds himself at a crossroads in his career. If he can bounce back and perform well, he will have the chance to compete for a starting job. However, if his performance continues to decline, he may not be re-signed when his contract expires.
Despite the competition at cornerback and Mathis’ struggles, Broncos coach Sean Payton has spoken positively about Mathis’ potential and work ethic. The team has also made moves to bring in additional cornerback talent, such as drafting Riley Moss and Kris Abrams-Draine and signing Levi Wallace in free agency. These moves indicate that Mathis will need to have a strong season in 2024 to secure his future with the team beyond his rookie contract.