NFL Draft Smokescreen (?) of the Day: The Bills Might Draft Alabama’s Mark Barron
Mark Barron is by far the best safety in the 2012 NFL draft. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Alabama star is coming off surgery (hernia), but he’s definitely a first round pick.
Back in December, after Barron played his way onto the All-American team and after the Jets were embarrassed twice by the beastly New England Patriots tight ends, I had New York taking Barron in a mock draft. Finally, someone to match up with Gronk and Hernandez!
Problem is, the Dallas Cowboys checked out Barron, fell in love with him, and by all accounts, he was going off the board to Dallas at 14. The Cowboys’ secondary was awful (Dallas was 23rd in the league in pass defense; some will point out the Giants were 29, Saints 30, Patriots 31, Packers 32), and a major need in the offseason. They’ve already signed corner Brandon Carr and safety Brodney Pool (from the Jets).
And now, days before the draft, this has “leaked” out, according to half a dozen reporters: The Bills want Barron at 9 10!
Remember when the Bills were 5-2 last season and were hosting the Jets? The playoffs were within reach! Then the Bills turned the ball over 21 times in their final nine games and missed the playoffs (again).
In the team’s most crucial stretch of the season, the offense sputtered: 11 points in a loss to the Jets. Seven points in a loss to Dallas. Eight points in a loss to Miami. Defense was a problem, too – the Bills finished 30th in ppg allowed (27.1).
So this offseason, Buffalo gave $96 million to Mario Williams, instantly giving the Bills one of the stronger defensive lines in the AFC. Also in March, the Bills added a TE, LB, S and another DE. So five free agent moves, four of them are defense, and now they’re going to add another defensive player in the first round? (Hey, they need to defend Gronk and Hernandez, too!)
Not buying it. The Bills could use a No. 1 receiver (Stevie Johnson is more a No. 2), and could bolster that offensive line. I think the “we like Barron” stuff was purposely leaked to reporters in an attempt to get Dallas or the Jets to trade up so Buffalo can slide down and take Michael Floyd of Notre Dame.
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April 25th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Right, it’s impossible the Bills could be thinking the same thing.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
They pick tenth.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
This should be a weekend thing. You grill out, turn the radio or TV on, drink a ton of beer because your team drafted a punt returner (Dolphins’d) and you have a good time.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Has anyone ever dropped for hernia surgery? It’s not like your ACLs attach to your balls.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
The Bills went defense with their first 3 picks last year as well, all from big-time southern schools (Bama, Texas, LSU). Barron seems to fit that mold. Personally i’d rather see them take Floyd or Kuechly but if they think Barron is a superstar I think you make that pick. I think they see him as a guy who can make plays all over the field. George Wilson is a nice player but he’s never going to be in the Reed/Polomalu class.
If they are using it as a smoke screen, good for them. I wouldnt mind trading down from 10.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Bills’ March transactions:
March 21, 2012 Agreed to terms with S Bryan Scott. Signed DE Mark Anderson to a four-year contract.
March 19, 2012 Re-signed WR Derek Hagan.
March 15, 2012 Agreed to terms with DE Mario Williams on a six-year contract.
March 12, 2012 Tendered contract offers to OL Chad Rinehart and OL Kraig Urbik.
March 9, 2012 Agreed to terms with LB Kirk Morrison on a two-year contract.
March 8, 2012 Agreed to terms with TE Scott Chandler on a two-year contract.
March 7, 2012 Re-signed WR Ruvell Martin.
March 5, 2012 Signed WR Stevie Johnson to a contract extension.
Three of the guys you mentioned the Bills “adding” (Chandler, Scott and Morrison) actually played with the team last year. They were re-signed, not added.
Good try though glad you attempted the research.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
those numbers mean absolutely nothing. who’s GB’s “no. 1 WR?” driver or jennings? is the no. 2 just no. 2 because he’s on that team or would he instantly be a no. 1 elsewhere? what if the no. 1 WR is a TE? what if the no. 1 WR isn’t the first option in the read progression?
it’s a lazy term, much like “franchise QB.”
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
the link was there for a reason.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Attached to your balls?
Also, I don’t think Floyd would be available at 14. Just a guess though.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
What does football wunderkind Greg Cosell think about this?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
And after they draft Floyd, they could still use a No. 1 receiver. My ceiling for him is as a crappy 5th starter for the Cubs.
My problem with stuff like this… never once have I heard an ‘oops my bad’ when it doesn’t work out. If you are going to throw shit against the wall to see what sticks, at least hold yourself accountable for cleaning up what doesn’t.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
3 defensive picks last year, Mario Williams … more defense?
sticking my “Barron is a smokescreen.”
kind of bummed there’s only 5 more days of this. The draft is fun.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Jordy
April 25th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
He has no children so I question his testosterone levels and he has no positive drug tests so he’s duplicitous.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:01 PM
“Look at that little monkey run!” ?
/wrong Cosell
April 25th, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Dropping from 10 to 14 would take what? A 3rd rounder? 4th?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:02 PM
(hernia)
/removes glasses
A Sports Hernia?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:03 PM
It’s possible, and if they go offense you might be right. Even Adam Dunn could get 200 hits in a season if he got 1500 ABs, but I’d still only care about what his batting average is.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
I liked the mock draft I read that had the Pats trading 27 and 31 to Seattle for 12 and 106 and picking Barron at 12.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
I’m sure Darrelle Revis would love for the Bills to draft a “true #1″ if it means he doesnt have to cover Stevie Johnson anymore. Stevie’s hands may be questionable but he’s one of the best route-runners in the league.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
And since THIS would have been too much research for Jason to do, and too logical… here are the safeties already on the Bills roster
FS Jairus Byrd Bryan Scott
SS George Wilson Da’Norris Searcy Joshua Nesbitt
They might be taking Barron
April 25th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Has anyone ever dropped for hernia surgery? It’s not like your ACLs attach to your balls.
I cannot tell you the level of relief you have just given me by providing this information. My life shall continue.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
The Titans are doing cool promotion where fans get to go on stage and choose late round picks. Any other team doing this?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
I wish there was some wacky GM’s that would leak crazy rumors.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Everytime time you do this, Horatio Caine gets an erection.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
My ceiling for him is as a crappy 5th starter for the Cubs.
samardja is better than any bosox ace right now friend
April 25th, 2012 at 12:07 PM
(hernia)
/removes glasses
A Sports Hernia?
/cue Roger Daltrey singing “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:07 PM
wait, did someone compare the Packers’ receivers to Stevie Johnson?
Uh, Stevie Johnson would be what, the No. 3 WR on Green Bay after Jennings/Nelson?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:08 PM
So knowing the Titans fans, the backup waterboy from UT is going to be starting QB for the team next year.
/still better than Locker
//Titans fans are kind of dumb
April 25th, 2012 at 12:08 PM
CJ, just be quiet. You know the Patriots will make a slew of trades and draft all great players and continue dominating. Just shut up! I hate the damn Patriots because they make so many damn good moves.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:08 PM
No.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
I think you are a little low on Stevie…he is an above average WR. Great route runner.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Is this a… reverse jinx? A sarcasm jinx? I cant tell.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
WWoS, i’ll indulge you – yes, I took a look at the depth chart. I know Byrd is pretty good and Wilson is eh.
How’s this – if they take Barron, you win bragging rights. If they don’t take Barron, we’ll boot you from the comments for a weekend.
Deal?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:10 PM
I can only think of 6 or 7 people walking this planet that wouldn’t be.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:10 PM
If the Bills are taking Floyd they’re keeping it a huge secret since they’ve barely had contact with him since the combine. I think he might be too boom-or-bust for the Bills – Barron and Kuechly have much better reputations and the feeling is at the worst they’ll be decent NFL starters (Donte Whitner/Paul Posluszny).
April 25th, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Any other team doing this?
By choose, I mean get to say it on stage. That would be part disaster/part awesome if they did actually pick
April 25th, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Would be better if it had any truth to it. Let me know when he faces a real lineup.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:11 PM
You grill out, turn the radio or TV on, drink a ton of beer because your team drafted a punt returner (Dolphins’d) and you have a good time.
sold! party at texan fan’s!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:11 PM
/trades down
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
i did…and i think you shouldn’t be throwing stones while you put greg jennings and jordy nelson in the same class from your glass house. he’s a 3rd WR getting far less coverage thanks to driver and jennings with aaron rodgers as his QB…a far cry from stevie’s shitty situation.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
A 4+ ERA in the NL Central is obviously awesome.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Great post (!)!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
The Titans are doing cool promotion where fans get to go on stage and choose late round picks
Bud Adams is a suck machine and should never be associated with anything cool.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
No? Maybe a Twitter question (I wouldn’t know)?
Hey guys, did someone mention comparing the draft to selecting bees? No, well anyway, let me tell you — the drones some of the bee farms put out there nowadays couldn’t hold Stevie Johnson’s jock.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
I’m glad you looked at the depth chart, makes me feel better. I’m not saying they are picking him… just railing against the principle of absoluteness over relativity.
And you can boot me for a weekend any time you want… how often do I ever comment not at work?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:13 PM
The above does not equal this:
It’s actually scary that someone could deduce the above as a “comparison.”
April 25th, 2012 at 12:13 PM
The problem is not that Stevie isnt a “#1″ it’s that they have no #2. They missed on Meachem and Manningham in free agency so they need to address WR early on in the draft. I just dont think it will be Floyd at 10 even though that would be my preference.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Bud Adams is a suck machine and should never be associated with anything cool.
A thousand times this. Fuck that asshole.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Except for CBs. BB has a thing for drafting crappy corners. Even McCourty had to follow up an All-Pro year with a shitty year, just to spite New England.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Dallas is gonna take DeCastro if he’s there.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Bud Adams is a suck machine and should never be associated with anything cool.
He’s not aware of it yet.
/because he’s flipping people off
April 25th, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Let me know when he faces a real lineup.
world champs (w/o pujols) don’t do it for ya?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:15 PM
WANT.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:16 PM
WR too. Aside from Deion Branch has BB drafted a single productive WR in New England?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Lover Driver, but you’re giving him a little too much credit here.
The coverage shift is due more to Jennings and Jermichael. Driver isn’t producing and whas offered to take a pay cut to stay with the team.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:16 PM
If they don’t take Barron, we’ll boot you from the comments for a weekend.
Deal?
so itchy the trigger finger…anyway, i say, deal!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:17 PM
yes, please have a rotation of injury prone safeties to match up with Gronk and Hernandez. I look forward to this.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Well shit, my day’s ruined. Though he ‘drafted’ Moss at 4 and Welker at 2, so at least he realizes that evaluating college WRs is difficult. Taylor Price may yet be decent, he just had to leave to make room for the fantastic Ochodroppo.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
world champs (w/o pujols) don’t do it for ya?
Berkman is on the DL too. Their lineup is considerably less scary than it was last year.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
the defense’s stretched out coverage is due to all of them being threats, which is the point i was trying to make. buffalo doesn’t have that type of personnel…so how can stevie johnson be a “no. 2 WR?” i was just using the packers as an example…not using them as a basis for an argument.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Nooooooooooo
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Pretty hollow threat. I think he drives ambulances on the weekend.
Now Spencer is comparing Aaron Rodgers to Ryan Fitzpatrick! What is wrong with this guy?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
This is dumb. Johnson fills in the Driver role. Nelson is a fucking smoke-n-mirrors job (look at his YPC numbers, REC per TD, etc… completely unsustainable) that benefited from having Finley and Jennings destroying teams underneath. Nelson is going to come crashing back to earth this year, but hey, go ahead and pony up a high pick in your fantasy draft for him.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:19 PM
You are obviously just trolling…
Chad Jackson.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Nooooooooooo
That’s quite amusing.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:20 PM
not really, but i think you can argue the WR that can easily grasp the system, or have the physical skills to make it work are gone well before the Pats pick.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Nooooooo
“he said, “I run for everything. And when I get elected, you’re going down.”
Awesome. Making Tennesseans proud.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:20 PM
AHHHH!!! Puppies!!!!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Did he draft Reche Caldwell? He’s the only guy who’s been able to take any pressure off Brady for his post-Spygate downward spiral. Hat tip to BB on that.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Wouldn’t be a typical draft week if Usi wasn’t talking about being traded again and Asante Samuel trade rumos (to the Falcons). Usi just doesn’t like Jerry Reese one bit.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:21 PM
wheaten terrier puppies are the cutest puppies in existence (non-corgi division).
April 25th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
It’s not often you capture a mugshot mid-stroke.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Stevie, his name is Stevie.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
This. I think it’s more that the Pats haven’t drafted many WRs over the years. It’s usually CB, TE, LB, DE, and a smattering of OL.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve drafted more QBs under BB than WRs.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
I thought he might have…but apparently he spent 4 very forgettable seasons in San Diego.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
id say the pats used their draft picks quite well to get WR’s…didnt they get welker and moss for draft picks. boom…drafted WR’s well.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:24 PM
world champs (w/o pujols) don’t do it for ya?
Berkman is on the DL too. Their lineup is considerably less scary than it was last year.
sure. but the bosox pitching staff is not offering statistically anyone better than the cubs crappy 5th starter
April 25th, 2012 at 12:26 PM
it’s an abstract way to look at it, but it’s no surprise that WR’s with some NFL experience, learning more complex systems before coming to the Pats have stuck on better than all the drafted WR.
i mean, if the pats needed a WR and they had the chance to take a Calvin Johnson or a Larry Fitzgerald, they would have taken them.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Belichick has a fetish for DTs recently. Still seems like the perfect pick for them if he lasts that long. Also, since the Patriots won the Superbowl (and found a franchise QB) they have Drafted Cassell (7th?), O’Connoll (3rd?), Mallet (3rd), and Hoyer (who I think was UFA).
Using 2 third-rounders on QBs during the Tom Brady era is striking. I’m not saying they were bad picks, but I’m sure you didn’t see the Colts using picks like that on QBs during the Peyton Manning era.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:28 PM
AHHHH!!! Puppies!!!!
wheaten terrier puppies are the cutest puppies in existence (non-corgi division).
you obviously have not seen these puppies
they are cuter in person if you don’t agree
April 25th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
2-14
April 25th, 2012 at 12:30 PM
can they not draft better cover linebackers to deal with gronk and hernandez, or are they just uncoverable by anyone other than a younger urlacher?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:30 PM
exactly…look how many option routes they run. gotta have experience and football IQ…no wonder chad jackson didn’t work out.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Yes, and if we agree to not play baseball for the next five months, this is a relevant and important statistic.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
look at current LB roles, esp with the preponderance of 3-4 OLB’s and then look at hernandez (a WR for all intents and purposes) and gronk having to be covered by a glorified DE.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
And Andrew Luck. If Mallet turns out good like I was saying the other week, it’ll be fine. If he’s as much of a druggie loser as people here seem to think, those will be wasted picks when the Pats are in 7-9 purgatory.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
no, but if they didn’t have Cassel and they were worse than 11-5 they who knows who they would have taken on defense. BJ Raji, Brian Orakpo, Brian cushing… maybe they don’t trade out and miss Clay Matthews…
April 25th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Yes, and if we agree to not play baseball for the next five months, this is a relevant and important statistic.
hmmm, those two sneaky little words ‘right now’ in my original comment seem to have evaded your attention. i am going to go now before you get all statty on me
April 25th, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Not really when you consider a) The Patriots have a butt-load of mid-round picks every year and b) Belichick has already shown he can go 11-5 without Brady. The Colts were so dependent on Manning that it wasnt worthwile for them to get a suitable backup, if Manning was done they were screwed regardless. Might as well bottom out and get the #1 overall pick, right?
April 25th, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Yes, and if we agree to not play baseball for the next five months, this is a relevant and important statistic.
Sounds good to me.
/JMac
April 25th, 2012 at 12:34 PM
not really…think of it as a 3rd round down payment on better picks in the future.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:34 PM
One day, someone is going to drop in a puppies link, and it’s going to turn out to be boobs
April 25th, 2012 at 12:35 PM
It won’t be me. I would never falsely advertise puppies. Puppies are awesome.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:36 PM
It’s just one of those organizational philosophy things. At least by drafting a QB, you know BB cares about the organization and its future beyond him (presumably). I’m fine with Mallet, though O’Connoll and the timing seems pretty crappy and useless in retrospect.
Then you gave stats for the past. I’d take four Sox starters over Samardzja “right now” in a must-win game.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:37 PM
sweater puppies did cross my mind
April 25th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
it’s easy to do if you have the front 4 that can pass rush while the other 7 players are busy covering 5 offensive players.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:39 PM
?que? I understand the individual words, but I can’t grasp the concept they form together.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:40 PM
exactly…hence the giants kryptonite. but having james harrison and woodley and polamalu and clark cover hernandez and gronk is not a fun proposition.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:43 PM
I’m sorry, you spelled Eli wrong.
/2x SB MVP
//wanking motion
April 25th, 2012 at 12:45 PM
You hit right on the reason the TEs are so effective, especially against a 3-4 team. When you force a team like the Steelers to sub, or use a primary pass rusher against the TEs, it really changes their defense. Against the Giants, they don’t disrupt their pass rush to cover the two TEs, because their OLBs don’t pass rush anyway, and can play 30 yards downfield to intercept the ball.
/sheds a single tear
April 25th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
it’s not, and if the pats decided not to send out Welker and Lloyd the steelers wouldn’t have any problems.
i’m interested to see if the pats do use Hernandez as a WR, Gronk at TE and a 3rd TE with Welker and Lloyd on the field.
having that 3rd TE solely to block while the other 4 go out in with routes should be interesting.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Then you gave stats for the past.
oh. didn;t see that. thought it was up to date. well, we’ll see in november for the G7 between the cubs and bosox, samardja v. beckett. until then, ny friend, until then
April 25th, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Probably will see that look more, with the empty backfield. If Faulk/BJGE are both gone, a lot of BB’s favorite trusted blockers won’t be around and he’d rather have the bigger TE to block.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:49 PM
that and a hobbled gronkowski really did have a huge impact.
goddamn ankle injuries coming up at the wrong time
April 25th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
i’m hoping in the next year or two we see a stronger running game develop, one that’s not just situational but one that is effective enough the defense might cheat up more or put in another defender in the box to stop.
April 25th, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Yeah, why look at trailing 17 games when you can look at trailing 162, or 324, or 5 years?
/wank
April 25th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
rusty i don’t know what that means. i’ll pretend you’re on my side
April 25th, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Tough crowd today…
Yes it is.
April 26th, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Anyone else surprised that there are so many stories in a draft where the first two picks were decided long ago? I don’t remember the last time the 4th/7th/10th/Nth picks had so much buzz/debate.