The Denver Broncos are riding high as one of the league's elite teams, and with Jaylen Waddle injecting new life into the offense, they're poised for another Super Bowl push in 2026. But when you zoom in on the defensive side of the ball, a few cracks start to show—and one of them involves a first-round pick that's raising eyebrows.
According to Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, the projected starting defense for the Broncos in 2026 has some question marks across the defensive line, linebacker corps, and safety spots. But the most glaring issue? It's in the secondary, specifically at cornerback.
Davenport projects the starting cornerbacks as Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, and Ja'Quan McMillan. On paper, that's a solid trio—Surtain is a star, Moss has shown promise, and McMillan brings steady play. But here's the catch: 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron isn't in the mix. And for a team that used the No. 20 overall pick on him just a year ago, that's starting to look like a costly misstep.
Now, let's be clear—it's still early. Barron has only one NFL season under his belt, and writing him off as a bust would be premature. In 17 games with five starts, he recorded one interception, five passes defended, one fumble recovery, 35 tackles, and a passer rating allowed of 98.8. Not spectacular, but far from alarming. He hasn't played poorly; he just hasn't played enough to force his way into the starting lineup.
The real issue is opportunity. With Surtain, Moss, and McMillan locked in as projected starters, there's no clear path for Barron to see the field in 2026 unless an injury or regression opens the door. Having a first-round pick riding the bench is a tough pill to swallow, especially when the team could have used that pick to address another need—like depth on the defensive line or linebacker.
For a Broncos squad with Super Bowl aspirations, every draft pick counts. And while it's too soon to call Barron a waste, this projected depth chart is a reminder that not every first-rounder hits the ground running. For now, Denver's secondary looks strong on paper—but that strength comes at the cost of a potentially valuable asset sitting on the sidelines.