The New Orleans Saints find themselves in a bad position this offseason: a team that needs just about everything. After finishing the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, the Saints have to hire a new coach, and rebuild a contending roster. Fortunately, New Orleans has a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to assist with this rebuild.
Currently possessing the No. 9 pick, the Saints could go in a number of directions. One direction the team could go in is selecting versatile defensive back Jahdae Barron.
Jahdae Barron could be the next elite defensive back for the Saints
Accolades: 1st Team All-American, Jim Thorpe Award, Team Captain
2024 stats: 542 coverage snaps, 279 yards, 0 TD, 5 INT, 33.1 pass rating allowed
Size: 5’11”, 200 LBS
Projection: Late first, early second round
Jahdae Barron is a defensive back who can impact the game in multiple ways. Barron isn’t solely a coverage cornerback; he excels at stopping the run and blitzing the quarterback. His versatility and prowess in multiple facets make him an intriguing prospect for any team.
Barron has played over 1,500 coverage snaps in his collegiate career. This experience has given him a high IQ, which allows him to be in the correct position to make a play constantly. The former Longhorn can guard any position due to his physicality. Barron thrives in zone coverage; he’s able to sit back and read the quarterback, reacting once the ball is thrown. He has excellent ball skills that allows him to break up the pass, if not intercept it.
Defending the run is one of Barron’s top qualities. He navigates opposing blocks well, allowing himself to quickly reach the ball carrier. Once he’s near the rusher, his physicality is seen. It’s not uncommon for Barron to level the runner, often making him fall on his back.
When given the opportunity, Barron has been successful blitzing. In 2024 he has only rushed the passer 21 times. In these attempts, he has five pressures, including a sack. On film, it’s evident that Barron speeds up the quarterback and affects the pass.
He is a chess piece that a coach can implement wherever. Since 2022, he played 51 snaps at free safety, 56 on the defensive line, 474 as a box safety, 860 at outside cornerback, and 895 in the slot. His versatility makes him a problem for opposing offenses. They can’t predict where he is going to be or what he will do, potentially causing disruptions for the quarterback.
The biggest challenge for Barron is covering quick, shifty receivers in man coverage. They have succeeded at creating separation in the past. Improving this is paramount if Barron wants to identify himself as a top cornerback in the NFL.
Picking up another piece in the secondary is pivotal for the Saints after trading Marshon Lattimore. Adding Jahdae Barron would give them a versatile option who excels at more than just coverage.
