Jahdae Barron

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.

Jahdae Barron

Barron with the Texas Longhorns in 2024
No. 12 – Denver Broncos
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(2001-12-04) December 4, 2001 (age 23) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
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 pick
Career history
Denver Broncos (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Jim Thorpe Award (2024) Consensus All-American (2024) First-team All-SEC (2024) Second-team All-Big 12 (2023)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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

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

Pre-draft measurables

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
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]

Personal life

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.^[17] He has two older brothers and three younger sisters.^[18]