Jahdae Barron 2025 NFL Draft Profile: Everything you need to know about Jets' potential pick
With the Jets set to pick No. 7 in the 2025 NFL Draft, let's take a look at one prospect who may be a target: Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron.
By The NumbersHeight: 5-foot-11
Weight: 194 pounds
40-Yard Dash: 4.39
Vertical: 35 inches
Bench: DNP
Broad Jump: 123 inches
2024 Stats (16 games): 67 tackles, 11 pass breakups, five interceptions, three tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery
NFL.com: Big nickelback was in the right place at the right time throughout his impressive 2024 season. Barron played smothering coverage underneath, fueled by route recognition, footwork and play strength. His instincts allow him to pounce on catch points or tackle pass catchers immediately from zone. The size and tape work in his favor as a physical nickel who can be an early contributor and future starter, with the potential to cross-train as a safety.
Bleacher Report: Jahdae Barron projects as an early-round pick with the potential to become a versatile defensive weapon in the NFL. His ability to play multiple positions, combined with his high football IQ, physicality, and ball skills, gives him a high ceiling in a variety of defensive schemes. Barron's toughness and adaptability give him a solid footing immediately and will allow him to develop into a key contributor at the next level. His versatility and competitive nature make him an attractive option for teams seeking flexibility in their defensive backfield.
Why Barron makes sense for the JetsBarron isn't a player who has been linked to the Jets very often, with most mock drafts currently projecting him to be selected in the second half of the first round, right in between New York's first two picks at seven and 42. However, Albert Breer of SI recently wrote that he believes teams are higher than most analysts on Barron, specifically citing Aaron Glenn as someone he would expect to be interested in a player with his versatility.
While that was an educated guess rather than a sourced report from Breer, Barron does have a unique skill set that a former Pro Bowl cornerback like Glenn might find enticing. Cornerback isn't viewed as a major need for the Jets, although reactions to the decision to sign Brandon Stephens as D.J. Reed's replacement have been lukewarm at best. Barron isn't just a cornerback, though.
During his college career, Barron played on the outside, in the slot and at the safety position -- with his athleticism and instincts helping him to earn all-American honors in 2024 as he intercepted a career-high five passes.
When Robert Saleh was the head coach of the Jets, he used to talk about positionless football," and a player like Barron would fit ideally within such a concept. While Glenn himself hasn't spoken in these terms, systems and schemes that can be flexible due to the versatility of some of their personnel are increasingly popular in the modern NFL. With Stephens having also started at safety and Isaiah Oliver returning after being used in a Swiss army knife role by the Jets last year, adding Barron would bring the Jets a variety of options for how to configure their secondary.
Even if there isn't an obvious starting role for Barron to slot into as a rookie, adding a player like him and giving him time to develop could be fruitful, while also giving the Jets some good cover in case of injuries, and - in the longer term - should any of their starters leave at the end of the season.
The only issue is that few analysts believe he'd be worthy of the seventh overall pick, given the potential upside of some of the other options likely to be available. The Jets may therefore view Barron as someone to target in the event of a trade down. If they did select him with the seventh pick, it would probably be widely viewed as a reach. However, if he can live up to his potential, Barron could prove himself to be worthy after all.
NFL ComparisonBleacher Report: Desmond King