Jahdae Barron
![]() Barron with the Texas Longhorns in 2024 | |||||||||
No. 23 – Denver Broncos | |||||||||
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Position | Cornerback | ||||||||
Roster status | Active | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born | Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | December 4, 2001||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
Weight | 194 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school | Connally (Austin, Texas) | ||||||||
College | Texas (2020–2024) | ||||||||
NFL draft | 2025: 1st round, 20th overall pick | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2025 | |||||||||
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Jahdae Lyzel Barron (/ʒɑːˈdeɪ/ zhah-DAY; born December 4, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Barron played college football for the Texas Longhorns, winning the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award. He was selected by the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
[edit]Barron was born on December 4, 2001, in Corpus Christi, Texas, later moving to the Austin area when he was in elementary school.[1] Barron attended John B. Connally High School in Austin, Texas. He played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. As a senior, he had 41 receptions for 673 yards and six touchdowns on offense and 43 tackles and three interceptions on defense. A four star prospect, he originally committed to play college football at Texas Christian University (TCU) and Baylor University before ultimately choosing the University of Texas at Austin.[2][3][4]
College career
[edit]Barron played in five games and had three tackles as a true freshman at Texas in 2020. As a sophomore in 2021, he started two of nine games, recording 18 tackles. As a junior in 2022, he started nine of 13 games, finishing with 78 tackles, one sack, two interceptions with one of the interceptions returned for a touchdown.[5] Barron returned to Texas in 2023.[6][7] During the season, he started 12 of 14 games, recording 61 tackles, one interception, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Barron announced that he would return for the 2024 season.[8] As a senior in 2024 Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and was a consensus All-American.[9]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
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5 ft 10+3⁄4 in (1.80 m) |
194 lb (88 kg) |
29+5⁄8 in (0.75 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.39 s | 1.50 s | 2.56 s | 4.19 s | 7.05 s | 35.0 in (0.89 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | ||
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[10][11][12] |

Barron was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (20th overall) of the 2025 NFL draft.[13] Upon being drafted, Barron requested to speak to the Broncos' draft room to personally thank every person there for choosing him.[14] Barron signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $18.07 million fully guaranteed, on July 15, 2025.[15][16] Initially wearing #12, Barron switched to #23 after the Broncos cut Audric Estimé prior to the beginning of the season.[17] He had worn the number for his first four years in college to honor Tardrick Fowler Jr., a deceased family friend.[18]
Barron made his NFL debut in week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. In the game, Barron recorded one tackle and one fumble recovery that sealed the win for the Broncos 20–12.[19]
Personal life
[edit]Barron has a very close relationship with his mother, Techonia Davis, stating that one of the goals of his football career is to make enough money for her to retire.[20] He has two older brothers and three younger sisters.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2025 NFL Draft Guide". The Athletic. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Davison, Drew (March 7, 2019). "Frogs pick up first commitment for 2020 after CenTex defensive back announces pledge". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ "Pflugerville CB Barron commits to Baylor after TCU". Waco Tribune-Herald. June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ Moyle, Nick (April 30, 2020). "Texas rounds out 2020 class with Pflugerville Connally CB Jahdae Batton". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Moyle, Nick (July 25, 2023). "Texas' Jahdae Barron flourishing in Year 2 at the Star position". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Huang, Christina (September 21, 2023). "Switch from Baylor to Texas works out well for Jahdae Barron". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Texas senior Jahdae Barron's confidence backed by film". Austin-American Statesman. September 22, 2023.
- ^ "DB Jahdae Barron announces return for 2024 season". HornSports. January 13, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Howe, Jeff (December 13, 2024). "Texas Football: Jahdae Barron wins 2024 Jim Thorpe Award". 247Sports. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Jahdae Barron Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Jahdae Barron College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Football Pro Day Recap". TexasLonghorns.com. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ Evans, Luca; Gabriel, Parker (April 25, 2025). "Texas CB Jahdae Barron selected by Broncos with 20th overall pick in NFL draft". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Williams, Charean (April 25, 2025). "Jahdae Barron asks to thank everyone in the organization after Broncos drafted him". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ Heath, Jon. "Broncos signing CB to 4-year rookie contract (with 5th-year option)". Broncos Wire.
- ^ "Jahdae Barron Contract Details". Over the Cap. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ DiLalla, Aric (September 1, 2025). "CB Jahdae Barron changes jersey number ahead of 2025 season". Denver Broncos. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Danny (July 16, 2024). "Why Texas DB Jahdae Barron switched to Michael Huff's No. 7 jersey: it's all about legacy". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ Gatlin, Jamie (September 8, 2025). "Former Longhorn Jahdae Barron shines in his NFL debut with Denver Broncos". Longhorns Wire. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
- ^ Evans, Luca (April 27, 2025). "Broncos' first-round draft pick Jahdae Barron finds the 'fuel to his fire' in mother, Techonia". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ Heath, Jon (May 3, 2025). "Jahdae Barron plans to give 'the world back' to his mom after being drafted by Broncos". Broncos Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 25, 2025.