All this hoopla about his 40 times and number of bench reps makes me thing of 2 words - Mike Mamula.
I'm sure Barwin is a very gifted athlete. But he's also only played 1 year on Defense. And that was as a DE against second-tier competition. There's no telling how well he'll be able to play in space - either against the run or the pass. His technique as an OLB will need a LOT of work. And there's just not telling how good his instincts are in coverage. One initial false step can turn that 4.4 time into 4.9 or worse.
I believe the Patriots' approach to the 1st round is to avoid "boom or bust" guys and instead draft guys with a high floor, consistent production, and low bust potential. IMHO, Connor Barwin is the antithesis of that type of player, so I would be highly surprised if they take him at 23.
I'm sure Barwin is a very gifted athlete. But he's also only played 1 year on Defense. And that was as a DE against second-tier competition. There's no telling how well he'll be able to play in space - either against the run or the pass. His technique as an OLB will need a LOT of work. And there's just not telling how good his instincts are in coverage. One initial false step can turn that 4.4 time into 4.9 or worse.
I believe the Patriots' approach to the 1st round is to avoid "boom or bust" guys and instead draft guys with a high floor, consistent production, and low bust potential. IMHO, Connor Barwin is the antithesis of that type of player, so I would be highly surprised if they take him at 23.