SB Nation Mock: Mark Barron to the Jets

by John B on Feb 25, 2012 10:28 AM EST

The mothership has its newest mock draft out, and it has the Jets taking Alabama safety Mark Barron at 16.

Mark Barron is this draft class' best safety and the Jets definitely need help there. Strong safetyJim Leonhard is coming back from another season-ending injury, and the Jets may look for somebody more reliable. Free safety Eric Smith is a liability in coverage as well. Barron has a strong safety body type, and he has the speed to be good in coverage. This would be a solid pick for the Jets to help shore up their secondary.

Make no mistake about it. The Jets need a safety. I am not sure I would dig this pick, however, if the Draft went this way. If you click the link, you will see this mock has the Jets taking Barron with Trent Richardson, Mike Adams, Kendall Wright, Cordy Glenn, Melvin Ingram, and Dre Kirpatrick still on the board. It is only my view, but I am with the people who believe Barron getting a rating this high is a result of a weak safety class.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would be extremely unhappy if we selected Barron with those guys still on the board. No doubt there is a drop after Barron but that’s no excuse to reach. 2013 is going to be the draft for safeties.

Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Jets/Cubs/Norwich City FC/PSG

by David_Wyatt on Feb 25, 2012 10:31 AM EST reply actions

I wouldn't mind Barron depending on the situation

i’d HATE him in this situation. As much as we really don’t need Trent Richardson, he’s a special player, and he’d be BY FAR the BPA at that spot. Melvin Ingram is still there too, he’s a much better pick than Barron. But if guys like Richardson, Upshaw, Ingram and whoever else are off the board at that point, then I wouldn’t mind Barron, since he addresses a position of need.

by darshv3 on Feb 25, 2012 10:34 AM EST reply actions

Drafting for need is a sure way to end up with a subpar squad

You take the best player on the board for your team regardless of position. I’m almost positive there are more than 15 players better for our team than Barron, so there’d be no excuse for taking him there at 16. :/

by Exystence on Feb 25, 2012 10:44 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I agree

We just hired Sparano who loves ground and pound as much as Rex. A Greene Richardson backfield would be bruising!

by BringBackNamath on Feb 25, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

Greene/Richardson...

… no way that player(T. Richardson) gets past 16 it would be foolish for us to pass on the best RB coming out, Upshaw/Ingram are the best fits and Floyd fills a big need too. If we target M. Barron we can get him by dropping down about 4-5 spots and picking up another second round pick. This “Team” has about 10 needs I have identified to bring it to the “Top Level”. This season there is less talent leaving than in the past two years, but “The Baum” needs to put his capoligist hat on and free up some cash to bring in some FA talent(not big names but young proven players or value FA). Having 10 picks in the draft and finding 4-5 players would be a HR(The “U” WR’s&RB players lit it up at the combine and got little if any attention this could help The Jets if they are smart as picking them will make someone look good), that leaves 5-6 upgrades in FA. March 15th is coming soon so I hope our FO is doing more than looking under rocks!

by keith.beckett2 on Feb 27, 2012 7:36 AM EST up reply actions

I disagree

Each team, draft class and pick is unique and should be viewed that way. As a general philosophy, BPA is fine. But the reality is that unless there is a drastic difference in talent, you are often just as good going for what your team needs rather than BPA. I think BPA is one of the most often overstated ways of approaching a draft.

"I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan

by OldJetsFanatic on Feb 25, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

The biggest problem with drafting based on need

Is that it’s a future solution to a present problem. It’s the exception rather than the rule that a draft pick contributes right away—no matter how highly drafted. Generally people say that a first round pick is expected to start right away, and yes, they are. But are they expected to be a great player right away? If so, then prepare to be incredibly disappointed.

by Exystence on Feb 25, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

The flip side to that is

That if you draft solely on BPA, you could wind up with good talent sitting on the bench while you have gaping holes in parts of your team.

"I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan

by OldJetsFanatic on Feb 25, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with Exystence.

I don’t think you disregard need, but I don’t think you let it have too much influence over who you draft when. You can address needs during the draft, but that doesn’t mean the bigger the hole, the higher the draft pick you use to fix it.

Yes safety is a big need, and RB is a small need. But you don’t pass on Trent Richardson to take Mark Barron because safety is a bigger need. In the same token, if the best center to come along in while is on the board in the first, you don’t take him because we already have a HOFer in Nick Mangold.

I think the idea of letting BPA guide your draft is to go after game-changers. Especially in the first round. If there’s an ILB sitting there, and you think he can be a game-changer, you take him. Eff David Harris and Bart Scott. Maybe you take a Decastro over a Glenn, bc he’ll have more of an impact.

by Crackback on Feb 25, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

The Bottom Line

is that Barron really doesn’t even fit the Jets’ need. He is more of a run-stopper who plays in the box. He doesn’t excel in coverage and isn’t that fast. The Jets need two safeties, each of whom can cover pretty well. Barron would be the worst possible pick they could make. I think there are several safeties in this draft who could wind up being much better players (Iloka, Markelle Martin, Trumaine Johnson, and maybe even Winston Guy), and that doesn’t even take into consideration CB to S coversions.

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years." Alexander Tyler

by joeklecko on Feb 25, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

I would literally take any of those guys prior to Barron

Hell, Kirkpatrick would probably make a better safety for us than Barron if converted.

by Exystence on Feb 25, 2012 10:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Clearly the mother ship has lost touch with its drones.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Feb 25, 2012 10:43 AM EST reply actions

+1

AHAHAHAH. That was just funny.

by BringBackNamath on Feb 25, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

I am very anti Barron at 16

He was a solid round 2 safety before the kid from USC decided to return to college. The only thing that has boosted Barron’s stock is the fact that he is now the number 1 safety option. If we are going to grab someone who is moving up boards, I want it to be earned, and not just given to him by default.

Get busy winning or get busy losing.

Follow @ZazzyJets

by GangGreenMag on Feb 25, 2012 10:43 AM EST reply actions

Mehhhhh

Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN.
GangGreenNation.com

by Bro Namath on Feb 25, 2012 10:49 AM EST reply actions

My opinion on who we should draft in the first...

…has shifted more to Cordy Glenn but if Trent Richardson is still on the board we have to take him.

by Shane H on Feb 25, 2012 10:53 AM EST reply actions

Honestly, the player I want the most is upshaw

but i don’t think he’ll make it past the cards. I’ll say we have about a 1/5 chance of getting him, and that’s if a team like the chargers doesn’t trade up, since you never know what AJ’s gonna do, and their pass rush is even worse than ours

by darshv3 on Feb 25, 2012 10:59 AM EST reply actions

Not only do I not like Baron, but I don't even think he's the best safety.

I like Markelle Marting and George Iloka better.

by Crackback on Feb 25, 2012 11:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Also like the idea of drafting a big corner and converting him to safety better.

The SS is dead. Nowadays safeties need to be able to cover. The in the box safety is obsolete.

by Crackback on Feb 25, 2012 11:08 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Hell, I'd rather take Kirkpatrick and make him a safety than Barron

by J-Nasty on Feb 25, 2012 11:10 AM EST reply actions

With barron having that hernia procedure done, he might slip later into the draft

If Melvin Ingram or any of those guys are on the board I’LL BE SCREAMING for the jets to grab one of them. I want the pass rush adressed, but if we really want to help mark succeed we draft an OL. Things is, if we draft an O-lineman at 16, it’s most likely going to be a reach.

Jets/Yankees/Knicks
Let's Make sure we play like the f***in NEW YORK JETS
and not some f***in slapd**k team!

by jets4life24 on Feb 25, 2012 11:11 AM EST reply actions

I don't know, Adams and Glenn have been mocked higher than our spot.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Feb 25, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t see this scenario happening without the Jets trading down there. There have to be a number of suitors for the people on the board still that’d move the Jets to a spot where the could still take Barron (or more ideally Glenn) easily. Someone would give a pick to get Richardson.

by Tim Sullivan on Feb 25, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions

I don't like it.

our biggest need is a disruptive pass rushing OLB. Plain and simple. Getting that will have a much greater impact on our defense than getting a safety, no matter how good.

"I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan

by OldJetsFanatic on Feb 25, 2012 12:24 PM EST reply actions

Its not really a need at all. We’ve been a top defense without one. I think its more of a want than a need. But don’t get me wrong, I want one too.

by Crackback on Feb 25, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Hate it.

Still doesn’t make sense. It is the biggest reach in all of reaches. He’s sooooooo overrated.

by JetKing55 on Feb 25, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

mmmmmmmmmm

Personally im for a safety but I agree our greater need is a beast at olb which will make even eric smith wack ass look good. If their isnt enough time for a Qb to sit back and scan the field the average saftety would look great . As for eric smith please rex if your reading this dont ever play him on defense again only speial teams where he is ok at

by BRONXBUSS29 on Feb 25, 2012 8:18 PM EST reply actions

That Is AWFUL!!!!

All those excellent prospects on the board, and he took Barron? Ugh!!! Unbelievable!!!!

by joeklecko on Feb 25, 2012 8:56 PM EST reply actions

S M. Barron...

… LB DE. Hightower and D. Poe are three good reasons the Jets should trade back for an additional high round pick. I like Upshaw/Ingram and Floyd but they may be gone, but strange things happen and T. Richardson could be there. The scenario changes depending upon other teams.
If the 3rd best (projected) QB falls (Tannehill) I would have to consider him as M. Sanchez insurance. He would not be thrown to the wolves so to speak and could be the future QB if Sanchez struggles to improve. Drafting Floyd will help our young QB but a pass rush will disrupt Brady and that should be the highest priority.

by keith.beckett2 on Feb 28, 2012 9:36 PM EST reply actions