FanPost

Barrett Jones, potential second or third round pick? Center of the future?

One of my favorite draft prospects is Barrett Jones, an offensive lineman from Alabama. I say lineman instead of a specific position because he can literally play all of the positions. For the 2009 BCS Championship he started every game at Right Guard, for the 2011 BCS Championship team he started every game at Left Tackle winning the Outland award as the nation's top offensive lineman. For the 2012 BCS Championship team he started every game at center winning the Rimington award for the top center in the country. He also got his undergrad degree after his Junior season (4th year since he was a medical redshirt in 2008) with a 4.0GPA and then got his masters also with a 4.0. He was a team caption for the 2012 squad.

Okay now the bad, he sustained a lis franc injury in the 2012 SEC Championship game but played through it and also played in the BCS Championship game. He had surgery immediately after the game and most likely won't be able to work out prior to the draft. In some mock drafts a while ago I saw him going to the Lions in the second round a lot however his draft stock is falling due to the injury and now I"m seeing him being taken as late as the 4th round. While I'm not sure I'd want to spend our second round pick on him I certainly wouldn't mind if we did, I don't think he'll last until the 132rd pick for our compensatory selection in the 4th round so I'd lovelovelove if the Lions grabbed him in the third round. Assuming he can get healthy I think he could be an immediate starter or at least quality backup at right guard and could be groomed to be our center of the future.

Mile High Report (The Broncos SBNation Blog) did a great draft profile on him here: Mile High Report Draft Report

Thoughts?

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