As far as the New York Giants are concerned, the latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft from DraftTek would have to be considered a stunning turn of events. Draft Tek has the Giants selecting Alabama strong safety Mark Barron with the 32nd and final pick of the first round in the 2012 NFL Mock Draft.
Why is this stunning? Well, up to now many of the popular mock drafts have had Barron going to the New York Jets with the 16th overall selection. To find Barron, who plays a position where the Giants could use some young talent, sliding all the way to the 32nd selection is a head-scratcher.
Here is Draft Tek's Bill Bliss on the good fortune of Barron landing with the Giants in this version of the Draft Tek mock:
Barron is our top-ranked safety, and for good reason: he's a hard hitter who plays the run well and possesses superb ball skills. He's got the long arms that Reese likes and has played a major role in both of Bama's recent National Championships. I'd expect him to immediately contribute on special teams before eventually becoming a key nickel player, and eventual starter, on defense. Giants' DC Perry Fewell loves to play a 3 safety defense, especially in this age of dominant TEs, and Deon Grant, a free agent, is not a lock to return. Even so, a replacement needs to be groomed. What better candidate than a guy from a Nick Saban championship defense.
Does Barron Fit With The Giants?
The short answer to that is 'yes.' The Giants frequently use three safeties in their defensive alignment, and Grant was often exposed during the 2011 season for his lack of speed. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds Barron has the size and tackling ability to eventually fill that box safety role. To find Barron at this point in the draft might be a little bit like last season for the Giants, when they got cornerback Prince Amukamara, a player generally considered a tp 10 talent, with the 19th overall selection.
The Draft Tek mock is a full seven-rounder. Here are the rest of the selections for the Giants:
Round 2 (64th overall): David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
Round 3 (95th overall): James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada
Round 4 (127th overall): Rhett Ellison, TE, USC
Round 5 (159th overall): William Vlachos, OC, Alabama
Round 6 (191st overall): Antoine McClain, OG, Clemson
Round 7 (223rd overall): DeAngelo Tyson, DT, Georgia