Alabama safety Mark Barron appears to be a popular 2012 NFL Mock Draft selection for the New York Jets. In his latest mock draft, released Monday, CBS draft analyst Rob Rang has the Jets taking the Alabama safety with the 16th overall selection. In his first mock draft, Andrew Perloff of SI.com also had the Jets taking Barron.
Rang explains his choice this way:
For all of the talent the Jets boast outside at cornerback, the play down the middle has been significantly less impressive this season. The Jets have struggled against tight ends this season and could use an instinctive, big hitting safety to fall into their lap. While the team certainly has other needs to consider, if Alabama's Mark Barron is available, perhaps it might be wise to take the easy way out.
Does Barron Fit With The Jets?
The Jets best safety, Jim Leonhard, has now had two successive seasons cut short by injury. The seven-year veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season, so perhaps protecting themselves at safety would be a good idea for the Jets.
Barron, 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, had 66 tackles, two interceptions and five passes defensed for the national champion Crimson Tide in 2011.