First-round draft pick Jahdae Barron finally inks rookie deal with Broncos

The Denver Broncos have officially come to terms with first-round pick Jahdae Barron, marking an important milestone as the team gets prepared for training camp. 

Barron, the former Texas Longhorns corner, was selected 20th in the 2025 NFL Draft and is widely expected to be an essential piece in a loaded defense. The deal comes just days before rookies are set to report, so this should provide some excitement to Broncos fans as a crucial season looms for Sean Payton in Denver.  

Barron’s rise to first-round status is a testament to his growth during his time with Texas. After redshirting in 2019 and seeing rotational snaps early into his career, Barron would become a full-time starter from 2022 to 2024. Across his five years in college, Barron appeared in 57 games and recorded 226 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 24 pass deflections and eight interceptions. 

He was a steady presence as a nickel corner for the team before moving full-time to outside corner in 2024. This past season, Barron had his breakout year, securing All-American nods and a Jim Thorpe Award. His versatility, football IQ and leadership made him a top corner option throughout the pre-draft process. 

The Broncos see a ton of usage for Barron. Whether he plays in the nickel or on the outside, he should be the perfect complement to Patrick Surtain. Standing just under 5-foot-11 and weighing 192 pounds, Barron may not have top-end size, but he has good closing speed, tackling reliability and ability to read quarterbacks. 

"When you watch his game in college, you see a very intelligent player, you see a guy who played multiple positions in college,'' defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said in minicamp last month. "He's a very mature, smart football player... His ball skills, his combine workout ... the entire process was really buttoned up. He was a can't miss prospect for us.''

For Denver, securing Barron’s rookie contract ahead of training camp avoids any holdout or distractions, especially as the team looks to improve on a promising 2024 campaign. 

He will have to compete with some talented corners in Riley Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian for starting snaps, but with his unique skillset and high-end talent, it is clear that at some point, Barron will be a massive part of this Broncos defense.