Broncos roster series: No. 23, DB Caden Sterns

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fourth-year safety Caden Sterns, No. 23 (formerly No. 30).

Before the Broncos: Sterns (6-1, 207 pounds) played college football for the Texas Longhorns, earning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2018. In three seasons at Texas, Sterns totaled 119 tackles (8.5 behind the line), eight pass breakups, five interceptions and two sacks in 29 games.

Broncos tenure: Denver picked Sterns in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He served as a rotational safety as a rookie, totaling 28 tackles, five pass breakups, two sacks and two interceptions in 15 games (two starts).

Sterns started three of the team’s first five games in 2022 before suffering a season-ending hip injury. He was a candidate to start regularly last year before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon injury in Week 1.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Lock. After missing 28 games over the last two seasons, Sterns will aim to stay healthy in 2024 before becoming a free agent in 2025. He is one of three safeties competing for two starting spots at safety, joining Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke. Even if he doesn’t start in Week 1, Sterns will have a key role in Denver’s secondary this fall.