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Jahdae Barron #23 of the Denver Broncos takes the field before the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the Buffalo Bills.
The Denver Broncos did not get the season many hoped for or expected from 2025 first-round draft pick Jahdae Barron, but he remains a big-time factor in the team’s plans for this offseason and beyond.
The Broncos selected Barron at a position of strength in the face of other, seemingly more glaring needs.
Put simply, the latest update on the former Texans Longhorns star looms large.
Jahdae Barron Delivers Critical News
GettyJahdae Barron #12 of the Denver Broncos look on against the San Francisco 49ers.
Barron, the No. 20 overall pick of the 2025 draft, played in all 17 regular-season games for the Broncos, starting five outings. He played in both of the team’s postseason games, too, but saw his already-inconsistent snap share dwindle over the two contests.
The 24-year-old defensive back offered a potential clue as to why his playing time dropped.
Barron posted an image of himself in a hospital bed following a procedure, along with rapper Hunxho’s song “Ups & Downs” as a soundtrack to his Instagram story on February 4.
#Broncos CB Jahdae Barron posted this on his latest IG story.
“Didn’t see him on the injury report this season, but offseason is typically standard to see handful of players who played with injuries get some ‘cleanup procedures,’” Mile High Sports’ Cody Roark posted on X on February 4.
“Unclear exactly what Barron had done.”
Denver Sports 104.3’s Andrew Mason followed up and provided more clarity on Barron’s situation.
“Being told from someone with knowledge that it’s a routine cleanup for Jahdae Barron, typical type of procedure for plenty of players after the season,” Mason reported on X, quoting Roark’s message. “He’ll be good to go.”
That is good news for Barron and the Broncos.
Broncos Still High on Jahdae Barron
GettyJahdae Barron of Texas speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton declined to “get into depth” but was “fairly optimistic” about the Broncos’ injury outlook during his season-ending press conference in January.
Moreover, the Broncos remain high on Barron, despite his underwhelming rookie season.
“Barron played less than 20% of the defensive snaps this season in a unit with three All-Pros in it, but the Broncos see an emerging role for him as a cornerback, safety and dime linebacker,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on February 3.
Former NFL player and scout-turned NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks is also high on Barron.
Brooks cited the young defensive back’s versatility and how he carved out a niche role even in his limited reps as a rookie in a deep position group for the Broncos.
“Barron was viewed as a luxury pick for a defense that was loaded with playmakers in the secondary,” Brooks wrote in December. “The rookie has started to make his mark as a versatile defender in the team’s sub-packages. The designated tight end stopper in Denver, Barron has emerged as a key contributor in a dime-defender role.”
With starting nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and CB2 Riley Moss the subject of trade speculation for the second straight offseason, Barron’s time in the Broncos’ defense could come in one form or another in 2026.
Before that, though, the Broncos need Barron to heal up and be “good to go,” as is their hope.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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