Broncos 2025 first-round draft pick Jahdae Barron details the versatility that he will bring to Denver's defense during introductory press conference

Not a lot of people expected the Denver Broncos to select cornerback Jahdae Barron with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but make no mistake, he's a very special talent.

In 57 career games with the Texas Longhorns, Barron recorded 226 total tackles, 24 passes defensed, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, two sacks, and one touchdown. He played all over the Longhorns' secondary, including out on the boundary, in the slot, and at safety.

While making his first comments as a Bronco during his introductory press conference on Friday, Barron detailed the versatility that he plans to bring to Denver's defense.

"(I played) corner, star, dime and safety," Barron said. "And it was fun. It wasn't a big task. It was a mental and a physical thing. Coach (Terry) Joseph and coach (Blake) Gideon, they taught me that nickel and dime, it was more physical thing. And then when I was at corner and safety, it was more mental. Understanding that you have to do things right over and over again, and you don't know when they're going to come at you. It just kind of changed on that aspect. But they prepared me well with my practice reps, going rapid fire on me, throwing me out there in the fire. So when the game came, it was like series-to-series. It allowed me to play fast."

"It allowed me to understand each position, and not only understand each position, but understand and truly know what that position needs from point A to B," Barron continued. "Understand where it stretches this person out. If I was that corner or the stars man, I could show off and just take away the slot fade for the star, little things like that. Understanding where I had to be if I was the post player, where can I disguise to get down. If I was a dime player, understanding where the MIKE (linebacker) needed help. So all those things, all those variations, I was kind of playing in my head. And I was just playing chess, and I was able to play fast. The amount of reps I did, and then the amount of knowledge that I learned from the coaching staff at the University of Texas."

The deep understanding Barron has of multiple different positions, and his ability to execute in all of those areas is going to give Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph a major weapon within his secondary. Barron should make an instant impact as a nickel CB, and will provide good depth if either Patrick Surtain II or Riley Moss have to miss time.