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Sean Payton Speaks Out on Broncos Trade Up Rumors Prior to Round 1

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Daniel Arwas | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 4:10 PM ET

With the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft having concluded, the Denver Broncos now have another key chess piece for their up-and-coming team.

Only, instead of an offensive weapon - as many believed it would be - the Broncos bought in Texas cornerback, Jahdae Barron.

Paired with reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Surtain II, the Barron will form half of one of the suffocating cornerback tandems in the National Football League on the Broncos.

And with the addition of All-Pro safety, Talanoa Hufanga, in free agency, the Broncos could be recreating one of the most legendary secondaries of the 21st century - the "No Fly Zone" - as some have already pointed out.

Pre draft, there was significant noise that Denver was looking to either move up in the draft to select a top tight end or running back. However, head coach Sean Payton dispelled these rumors post-draft, per The Denver Post's Troy Renck.

#Broncos Payton said there was no real desire to move up. That teams up there were looking to move back. He said "You're hitting a little bit of the honey hole" of the draft" in Day 2. That a lot of players with similar grades offensively will be there. They felt like Barron was…
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) April 25, 2025

"Payton said there was no real desire to move up." Renck wrote on X, "That teams up there were looking to move back. He said "You're hitting a little bit of the honey hole" of the draft" in Day 2. That a lot of players with similar grades offensively will be there. They felt like Barron was too unique to pass up. ... "There is depth at running back," Payton said of the position most often mocked to Broncos".

Certainly a trade up would have middle little sense given the team's plenty of offensive options come day 2 - where support for franchise QB, Bo Nix, will surely be the #1 priority.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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