Cleveland Browns: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft, Vol. 6
By Peter Smith
Round 7 (via JAX): Cody Barton, LB, Utah – 6-2.5, 237 pounds
- 68 solo tackles (12.4 percent) in 2018.
Age: 22 (Born Nov. 13, 1996)
40-Yard Dash: 4.64s
Broad Jump: 116″
Vertical Jump: 32.5″
3-cone: 6.9s
Shuttle: 4.03s
Bench: 30 reps
Cody Barton is an underrated prospect (as is his brother Jackson) that checks all the boxes from a prospect standpoint. He was productive, he has an outstanding athletic profile and he shows quite a bit on tape.
Listed as a middle linebacker, Barton was asked to do with a little bit of everything. He’s played the role of a SAM, lining up over the tight end as well as being lined up as the WILL out in space against a slot receiver. He has the strength to shock a tight end at the point of attack, fight through contract to make the tackle as well as the athleticism to contribute in space in coverage.
When he trusts what he sees and goes full speed, he can fly, be it blowing up a play in the backfield or getting to his spot in zone coverage. The flip side is he will occasionally read slow, play too high and be a little bit out of control. On balance, he does far more good than bad and the hope is the percentage will continue to improve in the NFL.
Currently, the Browns don’t have a true SAM linebacker. Genard Avery could theoretically get some run there as well as being an edge rusher, but Barton might be able to fill that role better, allowing Avery to be more focused on attacking the quarterback. Barton not only provides the ability to give them some credibility at SAM, even if it’s rarely used, while giving them more speed.
He’s a player that should cross train at other linebacker spots so he can provide depth and perhaps a starter down the road. Worst case scenario, he should be a missile on special teams. There’s just so much to like with Barton and the value late on day three is fantastic.