JON MACHOTA The Dallas Morning News
Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: 17 April 2012 02:32 PM
Related The Cowboys like Alabama safety Mark Barron so much that they could trade up to draft the playmaker that is regarded at the best safety in the 2012 draft.
SI.com NFL columnist Peter King released his first mock draft on Tuesday and not only wrote that the Cowboys "will pick" Barron but that he was also the player the franchise "should pick."
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Dallas trade up to make sure it gets Barron, perhaps with Kansas City at 11," King wrote. "The Cowboys have no identity in the secondary. No big-time players either. Barron would immediately boost a unit that's been beaten down—and provide the kind of tackler at safety that the Boys haven't had since Darren Woodson."
ProFootballWeekly.com draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki recently ranked Barron as the top strong safety and the No. 1 safety overall with a grade of 6.20, placing him 15th among all players regardless of position.
Here is the scouting report on Barron from SportingNews.com's Russ Lande:
"No one questions Barron’s ability to be an excellent run support safety and the leader of the secondary. He does a good job of playing the ball in front of him, but teams are concerned with how he will handle matchups with slot receivers and fast tight ends.
"Barron will likely be drafted by a team looking for a starting strong safety this season. He shares many qualities with former Purdue safety Bernard Pollard, a second-round pick in 2006 who has been a productive starter for three teams. I would expect the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys or Baltimore Ravens to consider selecting Barron because they are willing to start one coverage safety and one big, physical safety like Barron."
Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: 17 April 2012 02:32 PM
Related The Cowboys like Alabama safety Mark Barron so much that they could trade up to draft the playmaker that is regarded at the best safety in the 2012 draft.
SI.com NFL columnist Peter King released his first mock draft on Tuesday and not only wrote that the Cowboys "will pick" Barron but that he was also the player the franchise "should pick."
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Dallas trade up to make sure it gets Barron, perhaps with Kansas City at 11," King wrote. "The Cowboys have no identity in the secondary. No big-time players either. Barron would immediately boost a unit that's been beaten down—and provide the kind of tackler at safety that the Boys haven't had since Darren Woodson."
ProFootballWeekly.com draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki recently ranked Barron as the top strong safety and the No. 1 safety overall with a grade of 6.20, placing him 15th among all players regardless of position.
Here is the scouting report on Barron from SportingNews.com's Russ Lande:
"No one questions Barron’s ability to be an excellent run support safety and the leader of the secondary. He does a good job of playing the ball in front of him, but teams are concerned with how he will handle matchups with slot receivers and fast tight ends.
"Barron will likely be drafted by a team looking for a starting strong safety this season. He shares many qualities with former Purdue safety Bernard Pollard, a second-round pick in 2006 who has been a productive starter for three teams. I would expect the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys or Baltimore Ravens to consider selecting Barron because they are willing to start one coverage safety and one big, physical safety like Barron."
