SI.com contributor Tony Pauline, who was one of the first writers to report the Dallas Cowboys interest in free agent CB Brandon Carr, passed along an intriguing rumor in his latest notes column on draftinsider.net:
Barron's stock is on the rise as, amongst other things, head coach Nick Saban has given him rave reviews. He's being talked about as someone with a passion for football and a prospect who's skills have been underrated. We hear if Dontari Poe is gone by the 14th pick of the draft, and he's likely to be, the Dallas Cowboys are likely to turn to Barron.
From a needs perspective, Barron makes a lot of sense, as the Cowboys secondary has shredded repeatedly last season while they did very little to upgrade the safety position in the off-season.
If they have targeted the Alabama safety, it would explain their interest in trading down in the first round, as very few safeties are taken as high as No. 14. However, with so many teams looking to get out of the top ten, it remains unclear whether Dallas will find a willing partner.
A product of Nick Saban's NFL factory at Tuscaloosa, Barron would be a safe if not spectacular choice. The question becomes, if the Cowboys stay at No. 14, whether Jones will take a higher upside player, particularly in the front seven.
A video profile of Barron from SB Nation's YouTube channel:
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