Speaking at the NFL combine last month, Broncos coach Vic Fangio implied that he wasn’t aware of rumors that cornerback Brendan Langley planned to switch to wide receiver in 2019. We assumed that meant the rumors were inaccurate.
It turns out Langley actually is switching to receiver and general manager John Elway signed off on the switch at the end of last season.
“I asked [Elway] about the idea and his response to me was, ‘I was going to ask you the same thing. You’ve been great on scout team, let’s see what you can do,'” Langley said in a recent interview with KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
Langley does have some experience playing receiver from his college and high school playing days. He is still listed as a cornerback on the team’s roster but NFL.com has him listed as a receiver.
NFL rules will not allow Langley to wear jersey No. 27 as a receiver, so he is switching to No. 12, previously worn by ex-Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch. He is already listed as No. 12 on NFL.com.
The last Broncos wide receiver to wear No. 12 during the regular season was Andre “Bubba” Caldwell (2013-2015). Before him, the number was worn by receivers Matt Willis (2009-2012) and Domenik Hixon (2007).
Langley was selected by Denver in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Lamar. He’s probably a longshot to make the 53-man roster as a receiver. Then again, after the Broncos added Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan during free agency, Langley would probably be a longshot at cornerback, too.
Jackson, 24, is entering his third year in the league.
