With their twentieth general choice within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos chosen Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. This was a shock choice as a result of many anticipated Barron to be off the board nicely earlier than the Broncos picked, and plenty of assumed the Broncos would go in one other path resulting from already having a great cornerback room. Nonetheless, Sean Payton, George Paton, and the remainder of the Broncos ’ decision-makers determined that Barron was too good to cross up and added one other gifted participant to their cornerback room.
After the primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft concluded, Broncos GM George Paton met with the media and stated they didn’t anticipate Barron to be there once they chosen him. He added that Barron match every part they search for in a participant, praised his versatility, intelligence, and playmaking potential, and stated that they have been excited to have him.
“We weren’t expecting him to be there. He was pretty high up on our board. What we liked about him is [that] he’s a playmaker. He’s a football player. He’s a fun watch. I did him during the season, then after the season, Sean and I watched him last week, but we just couldn’t stop watching him. Just the instincts and participation, route awareness, zone coverage, really sticking to [his] man, doesn’t give up any completions. I don’t think he gave up a touchdown; we kept looking. Ball skills in the run game, this guy’s really good in the run game, a really good tackler, really good blitzer. He plays all over the field. This guy’s got really good football intelligence. He just kind of fits everything we’re looking for in a player. Talk about versatility, football intelligence, play-making ability. He’s just going to add to a good defense. We’re excited to have him.”
The large query surrounding this decide was, the place would Barron play? The Broncos already had reigning AP Defensive Participant of the 12 months cornerback Pat Surtain II and promising younger corners Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. Nook was a power of their crew earlier than this choice, so it created an fascinating dilemma for the Broncos.
Quick ahead to week one, and Barron wasn’t beginning, which wasn’t an enormous shock. He had a task on protection, however it was restricted, and he was behind starters Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. In complete, Barron would get a complete of 5 begins and play 334 defensive snaps (30%) whereas totaling 24 tackles, 5 cross deflections, 1 INT, and 1 fumble restoration. He was robbed of a pick-6 of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes resulting from one in all many poorly known as flags on Riley Moss final season.
As we enter yr two with the Broncos, Jahdae Barron is just about in the identical place. He’s behind starters Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, and Ja’Quan McMillian and might want to actually impress if he desires to surpass both Moss or McMillian on the depth chart. I consider the expertise is there, however I’m not positive if the street to enjoying time is at present there.
Jahdae Barron | Cornerback | Denver Broncos
Top: 5-11Weight: 200 poundsAge: 24 years oldExperience: 2nd seasonArm Size: 29 5/8 inchesHand Measurement: 9.5 inches40-time: 4.39 secondsVertical Leap: 35 inches2025 stats: 24 tackles, 5 cross deflections, 1 INT, and 1 fumble restoration
Jahdae Barron’s 2026 outlook with the Denver Broncos
Will Jahdae Barron’s function keep the identical as final season? Will he see extra snaps? May he surpass Riley Moss on the depth chart? Perhaps play some security?
I don’t know! That’s one of many larger questions surrounding this 2026 Denver Broncos crew. What do they do with Jahdae Barron?
What we do know is that Pat Surtain II is the unquestioned CB1, and each Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian are coming into the ultimate yr of their offers. It’s anticipated that the Broncos will re-sign one in all them, however who’s the query? Barron stays the elephant within the room as a result of he’s the possible in-house substitute for one in all them, however will he power their hand and push for a beginning job this season, or will he get one other yr of enjoying behind them?
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 16: Jahdae Barron #23 of the Denver Broncos celebrates throughout an NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive on November 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
Head coach Sean Payton was requested in regards to the imaginative and prescient for Barron in yr two, and nicely, he didn’t actually say a lot. He as soon as once more stated that Barron has inside and outdoors versatility and that there can be packages in throwing conditions the place he might get some play. He added that Barron is on the market competing and doing nicely.
“I think there will be two things. ‘A’, he has position flex inside-out. Then there will be packages I’m sure where in throwing situations, [Defensive Coordinator] Vance [Joseph] and those guys will look at what we’re wanting to do with our people, but he’s out here competing and doing good.”
That’s an early June, first week of OTAs quote, so I’m not taking a lot from it, however it feels like they envision one thing just like final season. Barron performed in sure packages and was the man they placed on sure pass-catching tight ends. Now, if Barron impresses throughout coaching camp and the preseason, he might push for beginning nook snaps, however that is still to be seen.
The Broncos’ uncertainty at cornerback is without doubt one of the larger query marks surrounding this crew. Who do they preserve between Moss and McMillian? May they commerce one if Barron seems prepared to start out? Will the Broncos roll with all three and do one thing just like final season?
I don’t have these solutions, however I’m to see the way it all performs out. Nonetheless, one factor is for sure: Jahdae Barron will possible play a giant half within the eventual consequence.
There are such a lot of questions and storylines surrounding Barron and the Broncos cornerback room.
Selfishly, I hope Barron has a robust summer time and forces the crew to decide. That’s most likely the most effective consequence for the Broncos. If he have been to look simply okay and/or disappoint, that will be an underwhelming improvement that would complicate the way forward for the cornerback place shifting ahead.
Personally, I believe Barron can be good. I merely noticed an excessive amount of expertise in his faculty movie to suppose he’ll flame out within the NFL. I additionally didn’t suppose he performed all that unhealthy final season, particularly for a rookie. I’m hopeful of a yr two soar, doubtlessly pushing Riley Moss for a beginning job, or not less than snaps.
Even when he have been to be the 4th nook as soon as once more, you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient gifted corners within the NFL. The Broncos are only one damage away from Barron enjoying vital snaps for them. We noticed Surtain II go down with an damage final season and Moss the yr prior, so having that depth is an efficient factor for the Broncos, particularly with them being a Tremendous Bowl contender.
On the finish of the day, I hope Barron lives as much as his potential this summer time. Having a logjam of gifted corners could be an incredible drawback to have, and I hope that’s one thing we’re speaking about in just a few months.
