ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Patrick Surtain II has a new partner in the defensive backfield, with the Denver Broncos selecting Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.
A ballhawk for the Longhorns, Barron lined up outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker, and his versatility is expected to allow him to make an impact as a rookie.
Barron has elite speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2024 after picking off five passes and breaking up 11 more.
In Denver he’ll team up with Surtain, the Broncos’ 2021 first-round pick who is coming off his best season, one in which he won NFL defensive player of the year, and cornerback Riley Moss.
The Broncos could even give the 5-foot-11, 194-pound Barron a look at safety.
For the first time in a decade, the Broncos didn’t have to spend their draft preparation poring over quarterback prospects. Bo Nix’s successful rookie season in 2024 allowed coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton to focus their energies elsewhere.
The Broncos got off to a good start with their roster reshaping in free agency, signing safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the San Francisco 49ers and adding tight end Evan Engram from Jacksonville and special teams ace Trent Sherfield from Detroit.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press
