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Jahdae Barron selected No. 20 overall by the Denver Broncos

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook04/25/25josephcook89
Jahdae Barron
Jahdae Barron (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

D. B. U. Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, a consensus All-American and the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, was selected No. 20 overall by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

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Barron is the first defensive back to be selected in the first round out of Texas since the New Orleans Saints picked Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th overall selection in the 2013 draft.

A product of Pflugerville (Texas) Connally, Barron originally signed with Baylor in the class of 2020 but was released from his letter of intent and committed and signed with Texas in short order.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Barron moved from the nickel corner position to boundary corner. That switch would prove to be one that changed the trajectory of his entire life. Barron became the best defensive back in the nation in his new role, functioning as one of the unquestioned team leaders of a Longhorn team that reached its second consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal. Thanks in part to Barron’s phenomenal play, Texas finished No. 3 in total defense, No. 7 in passing defense, and No. 2 in passing efficiency defense.

The Longhorns were also No. 3 in defensive FEI and No. 2 in defensive SP+ in 2024.

Barron finished his five-year, 57 game career with 227 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions, 32 passes defended, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. He scored two defensive touchdowns in his career and added one special teams score via a recovered blocked punt in the end zone.

During his Thorpe Award winning season, Barron amassed 67 tackles with 2.5 for loss, 1.0 sack, on fumble recovery, five interceptions, two quarterback hurries, and 16 passes defended.

In addition to All-America honors, Barron was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2024, a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023, and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2022.

His career high in tackles in a season came in 2022 while playing the Star position. He notched 78 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, five passes defended, and one fumble recover that he returned for a touchdown.

A member of the class of 2020, Barron was ranked as the No. 413 overall prospect, the No. 36 cornerback, and the No. 58 player in Texas in the 2020 On3 Industry Ranking.

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Barron becomes the fifteenth Texas defensive back to go in the first round since the end of the 2000 college football season. He joins Kelvin Banks in the first round. Banks was picked No. 9 overall by New Orleans.

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