2025 NFL Draft: Why Texas CB Jahdae Barron is a perfect fit for Rams

[ASFN Admin]

Cornerback is the clear and obvious need for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2025 NFL Draft. And while that doesn’t mean general manager Les Snead will take one with the No. 26 pick, it will surely be on his mind in the first round when he watches how the rest of the board falls.

Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema also believes a cornerback is a great fit for the Rams. And in his favorite 2025 NFL Draft prospect fits piece, Sikkema picked Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron for the Rams because of his preferred coverage scheme.

“The Rams played off-zone coverage 60.3% of the time last season,” Sikkema write. “That plays perfectly into what Barron does best. As an off-zone cornerback, Barron is excellent at spacing and anticipation to make plays on the ball, evidenced by his 90.8 PFF coverage grade as a wide cornerback this season (despite it being just his first year at the position after spending the previous two as a safety/slot).

“He’s an ideal fit for Los Angeles' defense, and great value if the front office can get him at the backend of the first round.”

The biggest question around Barron isn’t his ability, though. He’s one of the top cornerbacks in the draft who led the SEC with five interceptions in 2024.

Barron just may not be there for the Rams at the No. 26 pick, meaning Les Snead will either need to trade up for the privilege of drafting Barron or risk him not being availability when the Rams pick.

A lot of other cornerbacks have been mocked to the Rams, like Maxwell Hairston and Tre Amos. However, Barron would be a bona fide hit for the Rams’ defense and potentially give L.A. a Week 1 starter at a position group that underperformed in 2024.

However, it’s a toss-up whether or not he’ll be there in time for the Rams to take with their original pick. And while a trade-up might be on the table, it also might cost too much to go up and get Barron. With so few early-round picks (the Rams’ next pick at No. 26 is No. 90), it’s a tough sell to move up for a cornerback when other solid players might still be there at the end of the first round.

But that’s the risk teams run all the time in the draft. We’ll see what the Rams do soon enough.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: Why Texas CB Jahdae Barron is a perfect fit for Rams

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