Jahdae Barron will be an impact defender for the Denver Broncos in 2025

Jahdae Barron’s versatility and skillset have him poised to make an impact as rookie for the Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos surprised fans across the National Football League when they selected Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

For weeks leading up to April’s festivities, most of the talk surrounded drafting a running back, tight end, or receiver to give Bo Nix more help on offense. With reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II and solid of roster of defensive backs, drafting another early didn’t seem likely, and wasn’t a thought on most draft guru’s radars.

But then again, the Broncos weren’t counting on a Top 10 ranked player on their board to be available when they were on the clock. In fact, trade parameters were being finalized with the New York Giants, but once Barron was available, General Manager George Paton told Giants’ GM Joe Schoen the deal is off.

And the rest is history.

Barron, the 2024 Jim Thorpe award winner was an impact player for the Longhorns over the course of his collegiate career. In five years in Texas, Barron amassed 226 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 8 interceptions, and 24 passes defended. He had a career high 5 interceptions in his final season, earning him All-American and first-team All-SEC honors.

As outlined below, Barron saw significant reps as a boundary and slot corner, as well as being a box safety in certain defensive packages. His versatility and ability to play all over the secondary will be a valuable addition to the Broncos’ defense. Their secondary played well for most of the season. However, they struggled when Riley Moss went down with a knee injury late in the year.

With Barron and Talanoa Hufanga now in the mix, the backend of the Broncos’ defense is poised to be even more impactful in 20215. What can we expect from team’s top pick in this past draft? Let’s take a look.

Player Profile

Age: 23 | Experience: Rookie | College: Texas | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 194 pounds

Arm Length: 29-3/4” | Hand Size: 9-1/2” | Wingspan: 73-3/4” | Broad: 10’3” | Vertical: 35”

10-Yard Split: 1.55 seconds | 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.05 seconds

Jahdae Barron’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos

The evolution of the NFL’s modern passing game has put extra pressure on defensive coordinators to try and combat it.

Generating pressure up front comes first and having a shutdown corner is coveted, but finding a player capable of engaging in multiple roles in the secondary is just as tough of a task. Whether it’s slot receivers, tight ends, or running backs—teams are getting creative in how they deploy their players—which is why having someone like Barron on defense is critical.

As Paton stated after the draft, he felt the team had found a ‘joker’ on defense given Barron’s capabilities and body of work. On top of Barron’s coverage prowess and versatility, he is also a strong tackler who isn’t afraid of getting work done against the run. Tackling is a non-negotiable trait for Head Coach Sean Payton and Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, and the team arguably drafted the most sound tackling defensive back in the past draft.

I believe Barron will be used all over Joseph’s defense but feel he will take the starting slot cornerback spot away from Ja’Quan McMillian throughout camp and the preseason. That might be his best fit and should give him ample chances to make plays on the ball and help create turnovers on defense. Overall, Barron profiles as an impact starter in the Broncos’ secondary who should see a high-volume of snap counts in his rookie campaign.

Final Thoughts

The selection of Barron may have been curious to some. Though when you sit down and analyze it a bit further you realize how smart it was.

Finding a player that can excel in multiple areas is rare. Moreover, it’s not very often a blue-chip prospect falls to the second part of the first round. When those guys are available, it’s usually a smart bet to push your chips in on them.

I have no doubt Barron has the physical skills, football intelligence, and mindset to eventually become a Pro-Bowl or All-Pro caliber player. As a rookie, I expect him to get a lot of snaps and be a key cog in the Broncos’ defense. In turn, that should also give him the opportunity to make a lot of plays on the ball and create some havoc for opposing offenses.