The Broncos beefed up their secondary on Thursday, selecting Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the No. 20 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Barron joins a cornerback corps that includes Riley Moss and reigning NFL defensive player of the year Pat Surtain II.
Here’s a look at how national analysts are grading the selection:
(Grade: B-): “He is a good defensive back who can do a lot of things. I think he will play inside on the next level, but he can play outside and he play safety if need be. He’s just a good football player, but is he a pure corner?”
(Grade: C+): “Oh, huh. Rather than swing for a much-needed bellcow tailback, the Broncos decided to roll with Barron to further bolster a secondary that didn’t really need pressing help. Thatap… kind of perplexing.
“Nonetheless, Barron is an instinctive nickel cornerback with above-average size and strength. He’ll bully receivers, and honestly, he’ll probably even have his way with tight ends sometimes. Barron is a smart player who is seldom caught out of position, making him a nice fit for the already great Broncos defense. The vision here probably aligns with Denver ensuring it has a solid third cornerback against the base three-receiver formation of most NFL offenses these days. From this perspective, the pick is easy to understand.”
(Grade: B+): “Barron is the best slot corner in this draft. The former Longhorns star played 57 games over his five years in Austin, notching eight interceptions including five as a redshirt senior. He comes into the league with solid size for a nickel back at 5’11” and 195 pounds, helping him utilize physicality on the inside.”
(Grade: B): “Whew, this gives the Broncos a crazy trio of cornerbacks. Pat Surtain, Riley Moss and Jahdae Barron could be the best cornerback room in the league and will create a true “no-fly” zone for opposing quarterbacks. Barron can also play downhill like a safety and makes a lot of tackles in the open field.”
