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Jahdae Barron could show potential as ‘high-IQ defender’ during NFL Combine meetings, per draft analyst
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Jahdae Barron ranked as arguably the top cornerback in college football in 2024, and now the former Texas standout will look to the next step toward the professional ranks as the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks rated Barron as one of his top 10 players that could see an increase in their draft stock with a strong showing at the Combine. Here’s what Brooks had to say about him:
The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award — given to the best defensive back in the country — is a dynamic inside-outside cornerback with big-play potential on the island. Jahdae Barron’s instincts, awareness and ball skills should make him a hot commodity in defensive meeting rooms, particularly for teams looking to add a playmaker to the defensive backfield. While Barron must show evaluators he possesses the footwork and movement skills to flourish as a CB1 or blue-chip nickel defender, the Texas product could impress as a high-IQ defender in meetings. Superb instincts and diagnostic skills can help a defender play faster between the lines; thus, Barron’s interview process could make him a red-star prospect for teams valuing on-field performance and production (he posted five picks in 2024, tied for fourth in the FBS) over workouts.
In Brooks’s eyes, Barron’s smarts could help him emerge as a player of choice. Brooks had Barron as the No. 23 overall selection — heading to the Green Bay Packers — in his initial mock draft back in January.
We’re less than 2 months away from the NFL Draft, held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay in 2025. The first round begins on April 24.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
