The Broncos liked how rookie cornerback Blake Cotton looked even before he took the field last month at a mandatory minicamp. They liked him even more after seeing what he did in two days of practice.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Cotton, who played last season at the University of Utah, has an impressive wingspan of 77 3/8 inches and arm lengths of 32 3/8 inches. That played a key role in him getting an invitation to the minicamp as a tryout player.

The undrafted Cotton then did well enough on the field for the Broncos to sign him June 18, which followed camp practices on June 16 and 17.

“Obviously, I think what played a part is my size, just being tall and having length,’’ Cotton told The Denver Gazette. “(The Broncos) like to play press man.”

Cotton, who will report to training camp along with other rookies Wednesday at Broncos Park, joined 6-2, 202-pound star Pat Surtain II as Denver’s only cornerback listed on the roster as taller than 6 feet. The Broncos consider Cotton, 22, to be an intriguing prospect.

After playing at Campbell Memorial High School in his native Los Angeles, Cotton received only one scholarship offer, to UC Davis, an FCS school. After working his way up in three seasons with the Aggies, Cotton transferred to Utah. As a primary starter for the Utes last season, he had 30 tackles, including two for loss, and was second on team with seven passes defended.

Cotton went undrafted in April and wasn’t able to land an immediate contract as a free agent. He attended rookie minicamps with Tennessee and Carolina but wasn’t offered a deal by either. Then two weeks before Denver’s mandatory minicamp, he received an invitation to attend.

Cotton was impressive enough that the Broncos waived undrafted Georgia Tech rookie Ahmari Harvey to make room for him on the roster. Harvey, who had received a $10,000 signing bonus from Denver in addition to having $100,000 of his 2026 contract guaranteed, was signed a week later by Pittsburgh.

“It was very exciting,’’ Cotton said of being signed. “(The Broncos) had been interested in me before the draft, and then when I got to the camp, I felt I did well. I was just simply being myself and not overthinking everything and playing freely. I would say I learned the playbook quickly.”

And then there is his length.

“It helps a lot, obviously,’’ Cotton said. “I feel like it helps make it harder for the receiver. It makes it easier for you to stay in front of him. (Receivers) have to work a little harder to get around you. It’s about the presence and obviously getting your hands on them is easier because your arms are longer.”

The Broncos also are intrigued by Cotton’s ability on special teams. While he didn’t have that role at Utah, he was an effective gunner at UC Davis.

Before the draft, Cotton said he talked to Broncos special teams quality control coach Zach Line in addition to defensive backs coach Doug Belk.

Cotton’s cause has been helped by playing at Utah. He has become the sixth former Utes player on Denver’s roster, joining tackle Garrett Bolles, outside linebacker Jonah Ellis, inside linebacker Karene Reid and tight ends Caleb Lohner and Dallen Bentley.

Since Sean Payton arrived as head coach in 2023, other former Utah players on the Broncos’ roster have included wide receivers Tim Patrick and Devaughn Vele, linebacker Cody Barton and tight end Thomas Yassmin. Patrick, like Bolles, was inherited by Payton.

“My (cornerbacks) coach at Utah (Sharrieff Shah) was mentioning how the Broncos really like Utah players,’’ Cotton said.

In his one season at Utah, Cotton had fellow Broncos rookie Bentley as a teammate. He was a seventh-round pick in April.

“He’s super athletic,’’ Cotton said of the 6-4, 259-pound Bentley, who caught 48 passes for 420 yards in 2025 after having just three receptions in the two previous seasons combined for the Utes. “Obviously, being that big and being that athletic is pretty cool. I’ve seen him do a back flip.”

Just as they are on defense with Cotton, the Broncos are intrigued by the length of Bentley as well as that of the 6-7, 250-pound Lohner, a converted basketball player who was a seventh-round pick in 2025.

Now, Cotton has a chance on the Broncos to learn from Surtain, considered by many to be the NFL’s best cornerback. The 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is at least the league’s top big corner.

“We talked a little bit (at the mandatory minicamp),’’ Cotton said. “It’s great to be in a room with the best in the league and to learn from him. It’s really cool. It’s crazy. I can learn from him and get better.”

Cotton figures Surtain, who has a wing span of 78 inches and arm lengths of 32.5 inches, can provide him tips on how to even better use his length.