Well this isn’t how the Denver Broncos probably envisioned things shaking out when they selected cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Despite playing on one of the NFL’s elite defenses and seemingly getting every opportunity to shine and make plays to secure his spot in the lineup, Barron’s season has been a rollercoaster … and not the fun kind.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz singled Barron out as the team’s “Biggest Weakness” headed into the postseason, and specifically in regard to how Barron has struggled in his role as a nickelback covering slot wide receivers.
“Denver has one of the NFL’s best defenses this season, led by a vicious pass rush that leads the league in sacks (64),” Schatz wrote on December 31. “However, if opponents can get a pass off, they can take advantage of the Broncos’ slot cornerbacks, Ja’Quan McMillian and Jahdae Barron. Denver ranks only 27th in DVOA against passes to slot receivers, allowing 7.6 yards per attempt. The good news for the Broncos is that only two AFC playoff teams rank in the top 10 in the number of pass attempts to slot receivers this season: the Chargers and themselves.”
The Broncos, who are 13-3 overall, will host the Los Angeles Chargers in the Week 18 regular season finale with a chance to clinch the No. 1 overall seed and home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs with a win.
Barron Struggles to Live Up to Rookie Hype
Barron’s struggles have been tough to watch throughout his rookie season after the Broncos made him the No. 20 overall pick and signed him to a 4-year, $18 million contract.
According to Pro Football Focus, the numbers show Barron has been one of the NFL’s very worst cornerbacks with a 53.8 overall grade, ranking him 92nd out of 113 eligible players at his position.
If we’re keeping it 100, the main thing Barron is known for in his rookie season is some misplaced, childish trash talk against Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s fiancee, pop superstar Taylor Swift, following a 22-19 Broncos win in Week 11.
It’s as lame as it sounds. And kind of fitting for a rookie season in which Barron has just 31 tackles, 1 interception, 4 pass deflections and 1 fumble recovery in 16 games with 5 starts.
Re-Draft 2025: Broncos Should Have Taken …
While the Broncos found an absolute gem in the second round with running back R.J. Harvey (12 touchdowns), it’s not hard to look at the 2025 NFL draft and speculate on what the Broncos’ defense might have looked like if they’d passed on Barron and taken someone else.
Most notably, the Broncos could have taken Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall), who is a leading candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with 156 tackles, 11 TFL and 2 interceptions.
There’s also Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce (No. 26 overall), who leads his team with 8.5 sacks, Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (No. 27 overall) and Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Jihaaad Campbell (No. 31 overall), who all seem like stars in the making.
At this point, they all seem like they would have been better options than Barron — now and in the future.
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