Patrick Surtain II has a new partner in the defensive backfield, with the Denver Broncos selecting Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, Arnie Melendrez Stapeton of The Associated Press reports.

A ballhawk for the Longhorns, Barron lined up outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker, and his versatility is expected to allow him to make an impact as a rookie.

Barron has elite speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2024 after picking off five passes and breaking up 11 more.

In Denver he’ll team up with Surtain, the Broncos’ 2021 first-round pick who is coming off his best season, one in which he won NFL defensive player of the year, and cornerback Riley Moss.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/theredzoneorg 
     
Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky at https://theredzone.bsky.social

Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/Theredzone.org