Broncos rookie DB Jahdae Barron agrees to contract terms, only RB RJ Harvey is left unsigned
David Zalubowski
Cornerback Jahdae Barron agreed to contract terms Tuesday, leaving running back RJ Harvey as the only Broncos unsigned rookie.
With rookies due to report Wednesday to training camp at Broncos Park, a source said Barron, taken with the No. 20 pick in the April draft out of Texas, will sign a guaranteed four-year, $18.07 million contract. He will get a signing bonus of $9.78 million, will count $3.29 million against the salary cap in 2025 and will have a fifth-year option available after his third season at the team’s discretion.
Harvey, taken with the No. 60 pick in the second round out of Central Florida, remains unsigned as the sides squabble over how much of his contract will be guaranteed. Of the NFL’s 32 second-round picks, only two have signed deals. Others are hoping to follow Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the No. 33 pick, and Houston wide receiver Jayden Higgins, the No. 34 selection, as having received fully guaranteed four-year contracts. Harvey is in line to get a four-year, $7.36 million deal, but how much is guaranteed remains to be seen.
Of the Broncos’ seven draft selections, Barron and Harvey were the only two to not sign contracts before the start of spring practices. Both participated under injury protection agreements. However, unsigned players cannot take part in training camp.
It remains to be seen if Harvey will report Wednesday. Veterans are scheduled to report to Broncos Park next Tuesday.
With Barron in line to sign a lucrative contract, he told The Denver Gazette last month he plans to eventually buy his mother, Techonia Davis, a house in their hometown of Austin, Texas.
“That takes some time, but I have some people on it,” Barron, who is very close to his mother, had said. “But it’s no rush. She knows it’s coming.”
Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award last season as the nation’s top college defensive back. He played outside cornerback and nickel back during spring drills. Denver media personality Nick Ferguson, a Broncos defensive back from 2004-07, said last month he considered Barron more likely to take playing time in 2025 away from Ja’Quan McMillian, the primary nickel back the past two years who is due to become a restricted free agent next March, than Riley Moss, a first-time starter in 2024 at outside cornerback.
“I know (the Broncos) really like Riley Moss,’’ Ferguson said. “Ja’Quan is on an expiring deal, so if the team can find a player like Jahdae Barron and they can plug and play him in that spot, knowing as though they don’t have to pay Ja’Quan next year, to me that’s a win-win for the team.”
Meanwhile, Barron will sign a deal that will lock him up with the Broncos at least through 2028.




