1. Would you please stop referring to Barwin as "Conner"? I doubt you're on a 1st name basis with him, and if you are, it's the wrong first name, as his first name is "Connor". Dan Conner was a 3rd round MLB in last year's draft.
2. I never likened Barwin to Suggs/Ware/Merriman (though from a size/speed/agility standpoint he comes closer to Ware than any propect in the past 4 years). You mentioned Vernon Gholston, who was taken at #6 by the Jets as a possible Suggs/Ware/Merriman kind of guy, and I pointed out that the higher you take one of those prospects (Gholston at 6, Suggs at 10, Ware at 11, Merriman at 12) the surer you had to be because of the financial commitment. You mention Chris Long, but he was always a top 5 pick, and again there's a huge financial outlay to pay top 5 money to a conversion project. It was much safer to take him at 4-3 end where he was a proven commodity. Barwin at 23 would not have the same level of pressure, financial commitment or expectation on him.
3. Some teams may be looking at Barwin as a 4-3 DE or even as a TE, but he has publicly stated that the strongest interest in him had been expressed by teams looking at him as a 3-4 OLB. That is not a secret. Of course, a 4-3 team may take him before #23 at DE, but right now Everett Brown and Robert Ayers look to be more likely to go at 4-3 DE before Barwin.
4. Jerod Mayo was rated a 2nd round prospect at MLB going into the combine. He showed up at 242 lbs. (vs. 230 that he had been listed at) and ran a 4.53 40, and immediately started a steady climb up draft boards. He was still listed as a mid-to-late first round prospect until the week before the draft, when he made a steep climb up to the Pats at #10.
I don't know if the Pats will take Barwin at #23. They could take Maualuga. Unlike you, I'm just guessing. But Barwin has clearly cracked the 1st round ceiling as a prospect at this point. He could go early 2nd, but it is unlikely that a team will pass on someone with his athleticism, versatility, and potential. He reportedly looked smooth in position drills at his pro day at TE, DE and LB, as well as continuing to post unreal numbers. He was extremely productive last year for a guy learning a new position. He will have ST and situational value no matter what. And several teams are reportedly very interested in him. So my guess is that he won't last that long.