Denver Broncos first-round rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron played some valuable reps in 2025, experiencing some ups and downs. As he prepares for his second season, Broncos Country should still exercise patience and let him grow.
Film Room: Denver Broncos CB Jahdae Barron’s valuable reps
Jahdae Barron found himself drafted to the deepest cornerback room in the NFL last season when the Broncos selected him 20th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He played 334 defensive snaps (30%) in his rookie season and appeared in all 17 games, tallying 35 tackles, one interception, five passes defensed, and one fumble recovery.
Despite the depth at the position, Barron had to learn outside corner in Vance Joseph’s scheme and nickel, dime, and in some cases linebacker. Nobody had more on their plate than Denver’s rookie and as he goes into year two, Broncos Country should be patient with him despite his first-round status.
Let’s take a look at the film.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos had to face Patrick Mahomes and company without Patrick Surtain II, leading to Barron getting some reps on the outside.
On this play, Barron lines up against former fellow Texas Longhorn Xavier Worthy, who had the fastest speed on KC’s roster. Denver lines up initially in a two-high shell, until the Chiefs motion the No. 2 receiver from right to left, bringing Talanoa Hufanga down in the box and leaving Brandon Jones as the single high safety.
Barron is initially lined up in outside leverage and scootches over the top in anticipation of what he felt could have been a deep over route. Instead, Worthy climbs vertically and eats up Barron’s cushion, leaving him in pursuit to recover on a deep throw that Mahomes overthrows.
On this play, Barron lines up on the outside again. Upon the snap, Barron looks like he’s playing Cover 2, keeping an eye on the receiver who came in motion across the formation, while eyeing to see if No. 1 or No. 2 tries to climb over the top of him, where he can play the apex of what seems like a Cover 2 beater.
Once the ball is thrown to the receiver in the flat, Barron quickly plants and breaks to make the tackle. This was a good play by the rookie, staying patient instead of aggressively jumping the motioning receiver, because Mahomes could have easily hit Kelce in the second level.
Barron lines up in the slot against Travis Kelce on this rep, but unfortunately experiences the backyard football dynamic that he and Mahomes have made history off of.
Kelce has a vertical inside release, giving Barron the feel as if he’s running a quick sit route, but he pivots inside-out, while Jahdae tries to attack the top of Kelce’s route, which gives the Chiefs the leverage and space he needs to make a play.
Barron needed to experience these types of plays.
Barron’s lined up on top of the screen as the outside cornerback against a twins look with a back to his side. It’s clear that Barron is playing zone, because he zone turns and is keeping everything in front of him. No. 1 breaks inside, where Barron passes him off to Brandon Jones, while his eyes go to No. 2, who climbs vertically outside. This gives a Palms coverage look.
Barron goes to make a play on the receiver while the ball is in the air, and initially is in position, bringing his ball-side hand forward, but he fails to secure the hip of the receiver, which allows for yards after the catch after the play.
On this play, Barron could have secured the outside hip with his left hand, while bringing his right hand (ball-side) forward to swipe at the football. If he misses the ball, he can wrap up and secure the tackle.
Barron lines up against Kelce in an end-of-half scenario. The Broncos are manned up underneath while having three safeties playing deep.
Kelce attacks Barron, who uses a catch technique to make contact within five yards — Kelce then breaks it inside while Barron plays underneath, where he defends the pass from Mahomes.
In Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Barron is lined up against Dallas Goedert, who is condensed toward the offensive line. Denver is manned up with Surtain following A.J. Brown in motion.
Barron is playing outside alignment, because Talanoa Hufanga is over the top and inside of Brown, but Hufanga closes in on Devonta Smith, who crosses tightly underneath in traffic because of a clearout by the other receiver.
Jahdae does a great job of staying in position on the route and closes in on Goedert, but loses some separation because he played too tightly on the hip and doesn’t anticipate Goedert turning it upfield. Luckily, it’s overthrown by Jalen Hurts.
On this play, the Broncos come out in what looks like their base personnel (4 DBs) with Barron lined up next to Alex Singleton at linebacker.
Barron does a great job reading the WR screen and attacks inside, with Patrick Surtain II attacking outside, and Hufanga taking a banana peel angle. Barron makes the tackle.
Another play against the Eagles. Barron is lined up in the slot against Goedert again, while Denver plays with dime personnel (6 DBs).
Barron is outside leverage and does a great job of playing the route with a catch technique, allowing him to make contact with Goedert to get in phase, climbing underneath and playing the ball with his ballside hand to force an incompletion with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Barron’s lone interception that counted this season came against the Dallas Cowboys. He had a pick-six against the Chiefs and an interception against the Washington Commanders, which was wiped off the board due to penalties on Denver’s defense.
This was an impressive week for Barron because he was facing off against Jake Ferguson, who, at the time, going into their matchup had 51 catches, 334 yards, and six touchdowns on 58 targets. He was a high-volume receiving threat for Dallas, who had one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL ahead of this game.
Barron held him without a single catch and snagged this interception while Denver was in dime personnel. He plays Ferguson with inside leverage, which allows him to gain depth underneath in trail technique because he has Hufanga and Jones over the top and snags Dak Prescott’s pass.
Barron on this play lines up outside at corner against an empty formation, lining up against Ashton Jeanty who is split out wide past the numbers.
To this side of the field, it appears the Broncos are playing zone, based on how he zone turns, combined with how Jones and Jonah Elliss open up to a spot.
Geno Smith throws it to the far side of the field to Jeanty, and Barron runs up to make the tackle.
With how much was on Barron’s plate last season, he performed relatively well. Fans had first-round expectations for him, but because of Denver’s depth at the position, I think he was playing under a bit of an unfair microscope.
He’s a Swiss Army knife, and I wonder if the Broncos will create some sort of competition for him in training camp.
