Overall
I usually don't like to compare prospects to NFL players very much, but when watching Mark Barron he reminds me almost exactly of 49ers Safety Dashon Goldson. Neither excels in man coverage, and won't blow you away with their straight line speed, but both are playmakers who make their presence felt. Mark Barron's best asset is his instincts, he can immediately identify whether it is a run or pass (Often even before the play) and quickly gets to where he needs to be. Barron always seems to be around the football, and no doubt his hard work in the film room and pre-game preparation make him as good as he is. Once he identifies the play, he does a great job making the play as well. In run support, Barron does a great job fighting off blocks, and wading through traffic. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he shows great form as a tackler, and it is extremely rare to see him miss a tackle. His instincts also allow him to excel when playing zone coverage over the top. He reads the Quarterback exceptionally well, gets a great break on the ball, and shows tremendous ball skills. Barron will struggle in man coverage, but if used much like how the Niners use Goldson, he can make the same type of impact. Barron is the clear-cut #1 Safety in this years class. He could go as high as pick #10, but won't last far into the twenties.
