Broncos draft CB Jahdae Barron: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Denver Broncos selected Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the No. 20 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Barron started all 16 games of his final college season and had career bests in interceptions (five) and passes defended (16), adding 67 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery on the way to a consensus All-America selection and the Jim Thorpe Award.
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Also a first-team All-SEC selection, he tied for the conference lead in both interceptions and passes defended in 2024. Barron also posted a season-best and game-high 11 tackles in the Longhorns' double-overtime win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and was selected the Peach Bowl defensive MVP.
In five seasons at Texas, Barron played in 57 games, starting 39, and had 227 tackles, 19 1/2 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions, 32 passes defended, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He had three career touchdowns, including a blocked punt return in 2020, and an interception return and fumble recovery and return in 2022.
Barron ranked No. 30 in Dane Brugler's Top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
'Barron holds a master's degree in coverage schemes and has done a great job developing the mental part of his game, giving himself a head start keying and diagnosing the quarterback and blocking scheme.
'Though he doesn't have the movement burst for easy recoveries, he plays with supreme confidence and physicality without crossing the line, especially in zone coverage (two pass-interference penalties over his last 35 games in college). Overall, Barron doesn't have the top-tier size that most teams prioritize at the position, but he trusts his instincts and competes with the toughness and ball skills to hold up versus pass or run. Some teams view him as a nickel-only prospect, while others see his value to play multiple positions across the secondary.'
What an anonymous coach had to say about Barron in Bruce Feldman's mock draft:
'He's got terrific ball skills and feel. I think his football IQ is really high. His ability to adjust and trigger is elite. His footwork is really clean. Excellent open-field tackler. I thought this guy was the best player on that team.'
Best DB in the nation 🏆🤘@Officia1dae x @jimthorpeaward pic.twitter.com/oVFHrnswjm
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 13, 2024
We'll take that 😮💨🤘@officia1dae pic.twitter.com/5iiS0XtUVE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 16, 2024
Come back later for more analysis of Barron.
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