Mile High Report
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.
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
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...
