STRENGTHS
Baron has played and can play multiple positions in the front seven of your defensive line. He has excellent speed, burst, quickness, and change of direction agility. He has those long arms that allow him to trail receivers and big tight ends in coverage and still make a play on the ball. He is an excellent cover linebacker and inside the fifty-yard line, even has the cover skills to play on the outside and shut down those big Tight Ends and those big “move the chains” receivers. Baron explodes off the edge when used as a pass rusher using long strides to get to the QB quickly and disrupt or make a sack. Baron is strong and is able to play on the line and be stout against the run. When given an assignment on the field Baron is an impact player and will make plays all over the field.
CONCERNS
Baron struggles when he is put in a position to read and react. He is much better and more impacting when his assignment is to rush the passer or cover that receiver or being used as a spy. Also, Baron has to stay on the field, nagging injuries have impacted his ability to impact. It’s obvious that his workout regime is not correct for his size, muscle structure, and athletic talents.
BOTTOM LINE 1.97
Baron is so athletically talented and has such good size, that it’s obvious his talent has been abused by his college team. He has played so many different positions and given so much to think about on the field that it has impacted his ability to be consistent. It’s like trying to find waldo when looking at the film of Baron. One time he is lined up on the edge, next he is in coverage, next he is playing middle LB, next, he is lined up over the nose with the other defensive lineman. Someone please, draft this kid and give him one position to play so that Baron can reach his potential to impact and make plays CONSISTENTLY!!! I believe as a weakside LB in a 4/3 or OLB/ER in a 3/4 defense, Baron will become an impact player. But please, just because he is athletic doesn’t mean you have the right to abuse that athleticism and ruin his ability to play consistently. Baron reminds me a lot of the Bills LB Tremaine Edwards who is struggling to reach his potential for the very same reasons as Baron. I think Baron might sneak into the later part of the first round after it’s all said and done but, would not be surprised if he drops lower. His nagging injury history and the lack of consistent play will not be appealing to many teams in the NFL. “Making the simple complicated is easy, making the complicated simple… is coaching”.
