While entering the transfer portal seems a common step for any college football player to make in their career, the Denver Broncos’ 2025 NFL Draft class has revealed that staying put can be a positive, as they assembled a team of ‘football homebodies’
In a recent interview with ESPN, Broncos head coach Sean Payton revealed what went into his decision-making in the 2025 NFL Draft. He also explains why not entering the Transfer Portal can be a positive for some NFL coaches going into the 2026 Draft and beyond.
Seran Payton Sends Draft Message About Transfer Portal Players
In a recent interview with ESPN, Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton revealed his decision-making in the 2025 NFL Draft wasn’t an accident, as it was discovered there was something strangely unique about his team’s selections.
“It’s not by accident, there might be some coincidence in there, but in the overview, it’s not by accident. Not at all.” The NFL Head Coach explained when a unique statistic about his 2025 Draft Picks was revealed.
“The Broncos made seven selections in last month’s draft, and the first six played at least 41 games at one school.” ESPN writer Jeff Legwood explained, detailing exactly how Sean Payton ended up with his team of homebodies.
The next great Texas DB in the league 🤘
Jahdae Barron is headed to the Broncos with the 20th pick 😤 pic.twitter.com/t08L12xshN
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 25, 2025
“The inside info — who they are, that’s important to us. We say tough, smart, good teammates, we say those things, but to find it, to really find it … that’s what you want.”
“In this group, we found it in players who had stayed and played where they were for longer than a lot of guys,” Payton explained.
“Three of them — first-round cornerback Jahdae Barron, third-round edge rusher Sai’vion Jones, and sixth-round punter Jeremy Crawshaw — topped 50 games played at their school, with Barron’s 57 at Texas leading the group.”
“I think maybe they like guys who stayed and worked through things at one place.” Third-round pick Pat Bryant suggested, with the wide receiver playing 46 games at Illinois throughout his College career.
‘Leadership, Work Ethic, Mental Toughness’ Broncos Head Coach Reveals What Goes Into a First Round NFL Draft Pick
Outside of the unique factor that the majority of his draft picks share, Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton also revealed what he believes goes into making the perfect NFL Draft Prospect, claiming Texas’s Jahade Barron ticked all the boxes.
Talanoa Hufanga says first-round pick Jahdae Barron’s character immediately stood out to him:
“Beyond his years for sure, I’m just excited to work with somebody like that.” pic.twitter.com/U36jVnIR1q
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) May 1, 2025
You want to have a starter in pick 1, that’s what you always say when you go into this — what’s the vision we have for this player? Does he fit for us?” Payton began.
“That sort of thing, and it was a big part of Jahdae’s make-up, And you move through pick 2, pick 3, pick 4, pick 5, and pick 6 on this board … it just kept coming up for us.”
Outside of his talent as a player, Payton has also revealed in the past that another factor he looks for in an NFL Draft pick is Leadership, with Second Round Pick RJ Harvey revealing that’s exactly what Jahade Barron has as they prepare to be teammates for the upcoming season.
“Jahdae is making me better. I’m making him better. “He’s a great person. We’re all just blessed to be here,” the running back explained.
Recently, the second-round draft pick revealed that he explained to the Broncos the reasoning behind his staying in one spot for so long, a decision that ultimately worked in his favour.
“I went from Virginia, but I didn’t play any games at Virginia at quarterback. … I got to UCF and went to running back, I made the right move for school and for position for me and my family, and it was a blessing to stay,” Harvey explained, after spending 4 seasons with UCF.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
With all the unique decision-making that went into the Denver Broncos’ decision-making in 2025, Sean Payton and his team of ‘homebodies’ will look to go one step further after improving drastically last season, going 10-7.
Barron and Harvey will most likely hit the field as starters in 2025, with the Broncos set for a Week 1 matchup against a new-look Tennessee Titans side led by No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
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