ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A.J. Bouye is officially a Bronco.
The Broncos finalized the trade for the 2017 Pro Bowl cornerback on Wednesday after reports about the agreement emerged in early March. In exchange for the eighth-year player, the Broncos sent a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars.
"We're excited to be able to announce a trade with Jacksonville for A.J. Bouye," President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway said Wednesday. "He's a great fit in [Head Coach] Vic [Fangio]'s system with his instincts, ball skills, toughness and ability to play in a defense that mixes coverages. In addition to having the size on the outside to match up against larger receivers, A.J. is an excellent tackler. He's a complete cornerback who gives us what we need in both pass coverage and against the run."
In seven seasons in the NFL, Bouye has totaled 14 interceptions, 66 passes defensed and 315 tackles in 62 starts. He's also only missed six games over the last four seasons.
Bouye, who spent the first four seasons of his career in Houston before joining the Jaguars in 2017, was named a Pro Bowler after a remarkable first season in Jacksonville. As part of a star-studded defense, Bouye picked off six passes that year before helping the Jags march to the AFC Championship Game.
In the two years since, Bouye and the Jaguars have failed to reach those heights. With the Broncos, Bouye will be expected to become a ballhawk again and help Denver's secondary become a league-leading unit.
Denver's new secondary, at least shortly after the start of free agency, will have the chance to become just that. Bouye should be joined at cornerback by a healthy Bryce Callahan, who is expected to return to the field for OTAs after recovering from foot surgery in November. Behind them, the Broncos have a talented safety tandem in Kareem Jackson, who was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2019, and Justin Simmons, whom President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway hopes to sign to a new long-term contract after designating him with the team's franchise tag on Friday.
Bouye is already familiar playing with at least one of his new teammates, as he and Jackson formed half of the Texans' starting secondary in 2016.
