Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka has a catch broken up by Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) in the Cotton Bowl. Barron finished the season with 46 solo tackles, five interceptions and 11 passes defended.

How the Denver Broncos’ Loaded Defense Got Even Scarier

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated May 7, 2025 1:02 PM ET

Led by Defensive Player of The Year Patrick Surtain, the Denver Broncos’ defense were a catalyst to the franchise returning to the postseason in 2024 and might be even more dangerous in 2025.

While the Broncos added running back R.J. Harvey and wide receiver Pat Bryant to second-year quarterback Bo Nix’s supporting cast, Denver should be most optimistic about its marquee addition to the defense that could significantly boost the franchise’s ceiling this upcoming season.

Denver Broncos Rookie Cornerbacks’ Jahdae Barron’s Lofty Ceiling

Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema put together a list of the top incoming rookie and veteran pairings for the upcoming season, including Broncos first-round pick Jahdae Barron and Surtain.

“Barron was one of the top-graded cornerbacks in college football last season (91.1 PFF overall coverage grade and 91.5 zone PFF coverage grade),” Sikkema writes for PFF. “And that was in his first season as a full-time outside cornerback.

“He’ll now be paired with Surtain, who was PFF’s Coverage Defender of the Year in 2024 after earning an 87.4 PFF coverage grade while allowing just 0.53 yards per cover snap. Barron also gives the Broncos the flexibility to play him in the slot, where he earned a 72.7 PFF coverage grade over the past two seasons.”

Dropping Barron into the Broncos’ secondary opposite Surtain won’t just upgrade Denver’s defense, but could potentially set the stage for Barron to make a real charge at winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

As the Broncos look to close the gap on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, the cornerback duo of Surtain and Bharron could be a major piece of the puzzle.

Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) takes the field before the Texas Longhorns take on Mississippi State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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