Editor’s note: Seventh of an eight-part series breaking down the Broncos’ roster as they reboot under new coach Vance Joseph. Today: the secondary.

The AFC’s Pro Bowl defensive back group looks remarkably similar to what the Broncos fielded every Sunday.

Three of the four members Denver’s starting secondary — Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Darian Stewart — were rated among the NFL’s best. And the fourth, safety T.J. Ward, was a Pro Bowl alternate. It’s truly an all-star group.

That talent is why the appropriately named No-Fly Zone has been the top-ranked pass defense in both of the last two seasons. These four are brazen and cocksure, but their play almost always backs that up.

Being the best is tantalizing, but remaining at the top is difficult. Harris and Stewart are in their prime and obvious building blocks. Talib’s all-pro talent should earn him a place in that grouping, but his off-the-field issues and age (31 on Feb. 13) make his position as a building block less certain.

If the Broncos believe their championship window is still open, the No-Fly Zone should look similar to what it did last season. All four starters are under contract for 2017. But if Denver believes its “reboot” will take a couple of years, then there could be a youth movement. Related Articles September 17, 2020 Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Steelers and predictions

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There’s plenty of talent at both safety and cornerback in this draft. Corner, in particular, could be a position the Broncos target surprisingly high in the draft.

General manager John Elway has put a significant amount of resources into the secondary. He’ll probably have a plan for any moving parts this offseason.

Talib may be one more serious off-the-field incident away from the Broncos wiping their hands clean of him. It’s also possible the NFL suspends him in 2017 for the shooting incident last June in Dallas.

Talib, however, is playing the best football of his career while forming a dominant duo with Harris. Despite a $12 million salary cap hit in each of the next two seasons, Talib has shown the Broncos are a completely different team without him.

If the Broncos moved on from Talib, 2014 first-round pick Bradley Roby would move into a full-time starter role.

Roby played on 60 percent the the Broncos’ defensive snaps last season, primarily as an outside cornerback in nickel or dime formations. He has shown Pro Bowl ability at times but has had some lapses in consistency. The Broncos have to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option for 2018 by May. It would be a surprise if Denver didn’t pick it up, but Roby could be the next Bronco looking to get paid soon.

Kayvon Webster, the Broncos’ fourth cornerback, is an unrestricted free agent. Webster is Denver’s best special-teams player, but injuries and depth at corner have limited his opportunities on defense. He may test the open market, seeking a bigger role or pay check.

Lorenzo Doss and Taurean Nixon haven’t shown enough to be counted on in big roles. Although corner is a strength now, look for the Broncos to refill the well, especially if Webster doesn’t return.

The only question mark at safety surrounds Ward. The Broncos were proactive last April, drafting safeties of the future in Justin Simmons and Will Parks. Both played well on special teams and defense while showing promise as potential starters.

Stewart’s four-year contract extension signed in November locks him for at least the next few years. Ward, 30, has one more year remaining on his contract with a little less than a $6 million salary cap hit. It’s possible the Broncos will choose to move forward with Simmons and Parks when Ward becomes a free agent. It might even happen sooner.

Ward still makes a solid argument as one of the top 10 safeties in football. His on-field energy and versatility to cover, tackle and blitz would be hard to replace.

Decisions on Talib, Ward and the Roby option could signal the future direction of the secondary and the team.

Up next: special teams.