In a bygone NFL era, it was kind of understood that there were always going to be a handful of first round picks who ended up missing training camp over contract disputes.
Heck, there were even a few who just never even showed up to play for their teams at all. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers learned as much when they picked Auburn running back Bo Jackson No. 1 overall in the 1986 NFL draft and he refused to play for them.
In the modern era, with salaries already set in stone for each first round pick from the Collective Bargaining Agreement, we just don’t see that happen anymore. And if you’re one of the last first round picks to sign, it always raises some eyebrows.
The Denver Broncos did away with any uncertainty surrounding their 2025 first round pick when cornerback Jahdae Barron signed his 4-year, $18.01 million rookie contract on July 16 — almost 3 months after he was drafted and the same day Broncos rookies were scheduled to report to training camp.
“With rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron reporting to training camp with other Denver Broncos rookies Wednesday after reaching agreement on a contract, Shemar Stewart remains the only unsigned first-round pick from this past April’s draft,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on July 16. “Barron, selected at No. 20 by the Broncos, agreed to a four-year deal worth just over $18 million that included a signing bonus of $9.8 million, sources confirmed to ESPN. The Broncos privately had little concern Barron’s deal would get done as the two sides had spent some time in negotiations over the payment schedule of Barron’s signing bonus.”
The Broncos still have some concerns in terms of signing rookies, as running back and second round pick RJ Harvey remains unsigned.
Barron ‘Too Good’ To Keep Out Of Starting Lineup
Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks it’s a no-brainer Barron is in the starting lineup when the Broncos take the field for their season opener on September 7 at home against the Tennessee Titans.
Barron is projected to start at the slot cornerback position for the Broncos, with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II and second year starter Riley Moss manning the outside cornerback spots. There’s even a chance Barron could end up taking the spot Moss occupies on the outside.
“Whether it’s on the perimeter opposite Pat Surtain II or inside at nickel, expect to see Barron in the Broncos’ starting lineup,” Holder wrote on July 9. “While last year’s starters Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian return, both left the door open for someone to take their jobs with their play last year. Ultimately, the Texas product’s talent and versatile skill set are too good for Denver to keep him off the field.”
Barron was an All-Big 12 selection in 2023 and earned All-SEC honors and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2024 as he led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals for the first time.
Barron, 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, also ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing, 4.39 seconds at the NFL scouting combine in February.
