Even in the name of positional value, the Denver Broncos' selection of Jahdae Barron with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft never made much sense.
The Broncos believed they were getting an absolute steal with the 20th overall pick last offseason. Barron was touted as potentially being the top cornerback in the class, and the Broncos believe in drafting to a position of strength on the roster as well as loading up at premium position groups.
Unfortunately, this team selected Barron while forsaking other positions of need (running back, linebacker, tight end, offensive line, etc.), and it looked like a mistake initially. It looks even worse now.
Through two games, Barron has played a total of six defensive snaps. He's only played 18 special teams snaps in two games (35 percent), meaning his role is virtually non-existent. For a first-round pick that is not a quarterback, this is simply inexcusable roster malpractice, and the Broncos seem to realize the error of their ways.
Broncos have no place for Jahdae Barron in their defense (and it gets worse)
The Broncos don't currently have a place for Jahdae Barron in their defense. But wait, it gets worse.
Not only do the Broncos not have a place for Barron in their starting defense right now with Pat Surtain, Riley Moss, and Ja'Quan McMillian at the cornerback positions, but his future is apparently limited to just the slot.
Broncos insider Mike Klis of 9News in Denver recently had this to say in an appearance on 104.3 The Fan:
“I think maybe they found out that he is a nickel. They tried him at the boundary during training camp and the preseason. He’s a nickel, and Ja’Quan McMillian is their nickel. That’s basically what’s happening there.
Right now, you would just have to say if they had that number 20 overall pick again, they’d go a different direction."
- Broncos insider Mike Klis (via 104.3 The Fan/Denver Sports)
That is both a gut-wrenching report and a brutal dose of reality.
Saying that if the Broncos had that 20th pick again, they would go a different direction, is indicative that there may be belief within the organization that the Broncos made an egregious mistake by taking Barron.
At least initially, there was hope that Barron was simply buried on the depth chart behind three really good players, and that his lack of snaps wasn't indicative of his own ability being an issue. Now, it appears as though the Broncos feel like Barron himself might have been a whiff, not simply that they took the wrong position.
This is all just one big, painful situation.
The Broncos passed on some really good prospects with that 20th pick like Jihaad Campbell, Carson Schwesinger, Nick Emmanwori, Luther Burden, and plenty of others who would have filled more pressing needs for the team at the time. There were also plenty of players who could have filled future needs the Broncos are now still dealing with, such as Donovan Jackson or Tate Ratledge on the interior offensive line.
Once again, unless you're using a 1st-round pick at the quarterback position, there's very little justification outside of injury for that player not having a role on the team within the first two years of his career. There is no roster that is that good to have a 1st-round pick just waiting in the wings until his 3rd NFL season.
And another layer to the discussion is that Barron was an older prospect coming out, so in theory, he should have been more NFL-ready than others. He's set to turn 25 in December.
Broncos might have to entertain the idea of trading Jahdae Barron
Without a defined role, and with both Riley Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian playing like second-contract players, the Broncos will need to entertain the idea of trading Barron.
They are obviously going to lose value on a guy who was the 20th overall pick in the draft in 2025, but if he has no future anywhere besides the slot, those players can be found all over the NFL Draft in any given year.
There are also plenty of teams right now that desperately need cornerback help, and the Broncos would be able to potentially exploit that desperation, even with Barron's value about as low as it could possibly be.
That might be the only way to move forward from this, because every game that Barron isn't playing is another knock on his value.
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