The Denver Broncos have built what could be the best secondary in the NFL this coming season, and it should bring fans back to good times.
With the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Jahdae Barron. Defensive back wasn’t a need at that spot or perhaps at all in this draft, but George Paton and Sean Payton decided that the value was too good to pass up. Now, the team can make what was already a strength even stronger by adding the Jim Thorpe winner into the mix.
Here is a look at how the starting lineup should look when the Broncos take the field to open the 2025 season:
Cornerback: Pat Surtain II
Cornerback: Riley Moss
Nickel/Slot corner: Jahdae Barron
Safety: Brandon Jones
Safety: Talanoa Hufanga
That is honestly ridiculous. Barron, who was chosen as the best defensive back in the nation last season, joins Pat Surtain, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Riley Moss, who had a tremendous year two for himself in 2024.
Brandon Jones has proven to be an excellent free-agent find for the team at one of the safety spots and there is a high belief that Talanoa Hufanga will do the same this season. As long as all of these players can stay healthy, it gives the team a great chance to have not only the best secondary in the league but the best defense as a result.
When the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season, it was on the strength of the best defense in the league. That unit included the original ‘No Fly Zone’ with Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart and Bradley Roby. Kayvon Webster and David Bruton were key reserves for that group.
The Broncos have those as well. Ja’Quan McMillian has become one of the better slot corners in the league as an undrafted free agent and Kris Abrams-Draine is an exciting player entering year two in the league. The Broncos will have reinforcements available should they be needed.
Going into the offseason, adding offensive weapons to help Bo Nix was the main focus and though some fans may feel that more could have been done in that area, giving him Evan Engram and R.J. Harvey was huge. However, the selection of Barron should not be sneezed at as it gives the team a chance to shut down the high-powered offenses in the AFC, particularly those within their own division in Kansas City and Los Angeles.
The Broncos will reconstruct the ‘No Fly Zone’ in 2025 and it could become the storyline of the season for the team.
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