Jahdae Barron > Will Johnson
April 24th, 2025
Texas CB Jahdae Barron.
A guy who — from what Joe has seen and read — seems to have a lot of thoughtful insight, suggested a team looking for a corner in the first round of the draft tonight would be wise to go with this guy.
Theo Ash, from Pete Prisco University, has made something of a name for himself in the football analysis/content creator/podcast/NFL social media community. Yeah, he likes analytics but doesn’t let the numbers dictate play on the field. Smart.
Ash took to TikTok this week to give what he deemed “hot takes” with his last being the hottest.
(Joe ran the video linked above by JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan yesterday. Sean didn’t think Ash’s takes were crazy except for perhaps Ash’s last one.)
In his second take, Ash proclaimed Texas corner Jahdae Barron an overall better selection than Michigan corner Will Johnson.
“Jahdae Barron is better than will Johnson,” Ash began. “He’s more versatile, he’s a bigger hitter, he’s a more prolific ballhawk. And he doesn’t have the same kind of injury concerns.
“After Travis Hunter, Barron should be the first corner taken.”
Joe cannot disagree. At least when Joe is typing this on April 24, 2025. The Bucs seem to be on the cusp of replacing starting corner Jamel Dean. What’s the biggest problem with Dean? He can’t stay on the field.
So to replace Dean you do so with a guy who can’t stay on the field? At least through his senior season?
That simply doesn’t add up to Joe.
Yeah, when healthy and playing at his best, Johnson is an elite cornerback prospect. Joe heard NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell wonder why Johnson didn’t play as well (on tape) as he did his two previous seasons.
Maybe injuries have something to do with that. Joe doesn’t like spending a first-round pick on a guy battling turf toe and a bum hamstring. Johnson refused to run a 40 for a reason. What is he hiding?
If Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has cornerback on the brain tonight, it seems Barron is a safer pick than Johnson.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Big fan of Theo, cool to see he’s picking up some credibility within the mainstream media.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Great player. Doubt the Bucs draft him though.
He’s 23 years old, and by the time the season is finished he’ll be 24. That means that, if the Bucs were to draft him and pick up his 5th year option, he’d be 28 (!!) when his rookie deal ends.
That’s how old Dean is now.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:12 pm
Age is a key factor.
Demetrious Knight, great linebacker prospect, will be 26 by week 17.
Means he’ll be 29 (!!!) when his rookie deal is over.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
Fake news.
He is NOT a better ballhawk. Go look at their interceptions. Johnson takes the ball away with his instincts and ball skills, that’s the case in basically all of his INTs. Barron had one pick where he went and took the ball away and it was a deep ball that he came tracking down from the other direction. A nice play, but Johnson gets interceptions in the same ways that Ronde used to, jumping routes and running the route for the receiver.
Also, what are they looking for? When was the last time Bowles started a sub 6’ corner outside? If they want a nickel it’s Barron. If they want an outside guy it’s Johnson.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Too many unknowns with Johnson…he dropped out of the first rd on one popular guys mock….i’d stay away.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
I don’t necessarily see this as too much of a downside. 28 (theoretical prime) going into his second deal means: if he’s good, we sign a top CB to an expensive deal (we’d already have him still on a rookie deal entering his prime years), or if he’s average, we get him for cheaper than a younger guy.
When it comes to QB, of course age is important because you want him for the 15+ years, but CBs don’t typically play that long so I’d much rather have a guy that has his best years on his rookie deal.
Jamel Dean has been more expensive and honestly not produced anything worth writing home about on the field, regardless of age.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
You know a guy I’d take in the first round if the Bucs trade back, say, to pick 31 or 32 and grab an extra 2nd/3rd rounder?
Carson Schwesinger, linebacker out of UCLA.
The guy has all the skills needed to be a linebacker. Instinctive (most important trait of all), fast, tough, smart, great in coverage and a good tackler. Exactly the opposite player KJ Britt is.
According to scouting reports, Schwesinger’s a great leader and hard worker.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Nohl Williams is “the right player” to pair with Zyon McCollum in the brand new smash mouth press-man, rush four from the front look Bowles is honing in that lab.
Barron and Johnson can go play tummy sticks with Dean wherever he gets traded to for a pick tomorrow for all I care.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
@bakerbowl still don’t love it. At 28, you sign him to a lucrative 4 year deal and his play starts slipping after or during year 2?
April 24th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
@cho I mean Jamel Dean is earning lucrative money, that I don’t think he deserves. His play maybe hasn’t ‘dipped’ but that’s because his play never rose (rised/never risen)
I’d rather pay for an old rookie for potential than continue to pay Jamel Dean for mediocrity.
April 24th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
@cho –
I love this idea though
April 24th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
100 bottles of beer on the wall, 100 bottles of beer
Take one down, pass it around, 99 bottles of beer on the wall.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
April 24th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
@bakerbowl: “I’d rather pay for an old rookie for potential than continue to pay Jamel Dean for mediocrity”.
Definitely agree there!
April 24th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
HopeIn1Hand – Lets play tummy sticks……what’s tummy sticks…..I don’t want to play tummy sticks!!
Hahahahaha
They’ll draft edge or LB. It’s done.
April 24th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I don’t want a DB with a 1st round pick. The last time we did that we got burned pretty bad. We need a defensive lineman in the first. Either an Edge or DT. Best player available. You can get good DB, in the 3rd round
April 24th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Big fan of Barron as a nickle who can play outside too. I’d be great with him round 1.
April 24th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Buccos Says:
April 24th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I don’t want a DB with a 1st round pick. The last time we did that we got burned pretty bad. We need a defensive lineman in the first. Either an Edge or DT. Best player available. You can get good DB, in the 3rd round
^^^^^^^^^
Yeah, and JTS was a dream pick, huh?
April 24th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
He was compared to Tykee Smith. A versatile cb who can play nickel.
April 24th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
JTS was way better than Vernon Hargraves
April 24th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
There is more problems with Jamel Dean than injuries. Positive he is great guy but no matter what his fan club says, here are his weaknesses. He can’t cover, tackle or intercept passes. There is a reason Bucs have ranked near the bottom in pass defense. Jamel Dean is one of those obvious reasons. Easy to blame Todd Bowles for a defense that lacks a lot. Simple goal is to restore pass defense to mediocrity. Would be happy to hear from Jamel Dean fan club to find out why I am wrong.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Round 2 is the way to go for CB
April 24th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Similar problem in round 2 with Porter as a CB option. Seems like a good prospect to have but I think he’s nearing 25 years old.
Barron would be a good pick but I agree with others saying CB/S should be round 2-3 concerns after we draft an edge or DT in round 1!
April 24th, 2025 at 4:34 pm
Gipper you are wrong he does not have a fan club here . Fact is most here don’t like him. But that is because always hurt. Check his stats when he plays he ranks pretty good . Why do you think he got that big 2nd contract? They just could not project he would become brittle.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
So I will bite Gipper. Give us that long list of NFL cornerbacks that are better than Dean.
He is in the top 20 to 30 percent of corner backs — not the bottom 20 to 30 percent of corner backs.
No problem with someone suggesting we get better starter than him. The fact is, it is not an easy thing to find.
That is why there are 20 NFL cornerbacks making 16 million or more this year.
20 — not 5.
Dean is one of 11 guys making between 10 million and 13.3 million. So there are your starters — and that does not include the guys that are better like McCollum that a team is getting cheap because they are on their 1st contracts.
Let’s talk missed tackles.
Pro football reference has him at 4.9 percent for his NFL career.
They have Paulson Adebo at 9.9
They have AJ Terrell at 13.3
They have Jalen Ramsey 7.1
They have Derek Stingley at 9.9
I could go on and on.
If you want to say:
1. He is not a true 1. 100 percent agree.
2. That he does not create turnovers. 100 percent agree.
3. That he is ultimately paid a little too much. Could argue it but not sure you would be correct.
You are clearly wrong that he can’t tackle. He appears to actually be one of the best DB’s in the NFL on tackling.
So, replace him with someone better sure. Finding someone better, just ain’t so easy.
Remember last year — the joebucsfans wanted Kool-Aid McKinstry and how mediocre he turned out — an early 2nd rounder.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Buccos Says:
April 24th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
JTS was way better than Vernon Hargraves
^^^^^^
Hargreaves was terrible, JTS wasn’t very good at football, either. You actually think the Bucs shouldn’t take a CB in the 1st Round because of VH3? That doesn’t make any sense to me. I could see if you said you don’t want the Bucs to take a short, slow CB in the 1st, we all can get on board with that.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
If, IF Barron can play Outside Corner, I’d be okay with this.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
Woodman,
Don’t need to check his pff, stats or anything other than my own eyes which are very good. Dean could not be a backup on most NFL teams. Kirk “The Human Statue” would love to play against Jamel each week. What do you think Jamel would bring in draft choice either this year or next? If it is greater than a 6th this year or next, need to hear about it. I know I am right about this because Rod Munch is a big fan of Dean. Generally, Muncher is wrong about most.
April 24th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Whoever that woman is who just interviewed Mason Graham, she made him look small…lol, just saying.
Hope you start an early live draft thread Joes….I know you like stats 🙂
April 24th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
TMac ain’t no Mike Evans, dude just clowned his interview couldn’t keep sunglasses to stay on lol.
Our Draft Guru was right … Zero other comparison apart from height.
April 24th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
^yup…hope we stay away
April 24th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
Gipper maybe you have a bias against Dean.
You stated he was a horrible tackler but it is clear that he is one of the NFL’s premier tacklers at the cornerback position.
I think we can do better because we can get someone who allows less completions and gets more turnovers.
But crapping on Dean’s tackling ability with your own eyeballs just shows ignorance.
Let’s be clear — the guy knows how to tackle. To state otherwise is asinine.
April 24th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
If Licht goes offense in Round 1, no matter who is available, he should fire himself on the spot.
April 24th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
geno711
Can’t miss them if you’re not on the field
April 24th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
The good thing about Baron is he can play outside, NB and Safety. He gets ints because he prepares at a high level. The last two years he is watching as much film or more film than the position coaches. It was times he shut down half the field this year. He’s a willing tackler. Can play man and zone. With his versatility and film habits he can start this year at NB and replace Dean on the outside.
April 24th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Not sure about “way” better, but will give JTS a hair better.
Hargreaves once had a game-saving tackle in 2019 against Christian McCaffery to win a Thursday night game at Carolina.
JTS forced a fumble once on Carolina’s final drive in 2023 in Week 17 to send the Bucs to the playoffs.
That’s the only plays Joe can remember either one making an impact.
April 24th, 2025 at 8:10 pm
As to the discussion about the Bucs taking an older first round draft pick, the upside is, if they do very well, someone else overpays them when they become a free agent and the Bucs get a third round compensatory pick.
If the player is a foundational piece like a Derek Brooks or a Lavonte David, you ideally find them young and pay them to stay. If it is this year’s hot CB, take them, play them and pocket the compensation.
This year, the Bucs need their next Derrick Brooks/Lavonte David, so a young foundation guy – Campbell is the ideal.
Yes, David is back for another season, let’s hope it’s a good one. But, so far, I have found no one in next year’s ILB class who seems to have nearly the Brooks/David potential that Campbell seems to have. And, considering the way teams completed passes in the middle of the field to keep drives alive against the Bucs, the Bucs need a Chris Paul, Jr, a Jeffrey Bassa or maybe a Smael Mondon more than they need a Demetrius Knight.
April 24th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
geno711 perfectly describes Jamel Deen.
It would be nice to have an truly elite starter in place of Deen.
Realistically, given the injury rate, for every starting DB, you need a backup DB it’s not going to kill you to play. It wasn’t Deen or the time he missed last year that hurt the Bucs; what hurt the Bucs was the players the Bucs had to put on the field when Deen left games and missed games.
Izien was great filling in. So was Edwards in a small sample size. After that, the Bucs paid heavily for playing special teams players as backup DB’s and for playing starters who were still injured.
April 24th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Joe Says:
April 24th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
JTS was way better than Vernon Hargraves
Not sure about “way” better, but will give JTS a hair better.
Hargreaves once had a game-saving tackle in 2019 against Christian McCaffery to win a Thursday night game at Carolina.
JTS forced a fumble once on Carolina’s final drive in 2023 in Week 17 to send the Bucs to the playoffs.
That’s the only plays Joe can remember either one making an impact.
^^^^^^^^^^
If I ever hear the Bucs are drafting for Special Teams, like they said the year JTS was drafted, I’m giving up on football and just watching old episodes of The Benny Hill Show for entertainment.
April 24th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
As to turf toe injuries and the draft, trainers and coaches should really be proactive with the players. A custom shoe with the proper toe box can let the player feel and grip the field as they prefer while making turf toe injuries virtually impossible.
Likewise, a custom compression sleeve can be reinforced to give feet and ankles most of the protection of a TriLok brace without the stiffness.
For hamstring injuries, players stretch excessively trying to overextend their knee to lengthen their stride -which is fine until they land hard on their heel with the knee overextended. Someone needs to come up with a comfortable orthotic that allows the player to fully extend their stride while pulling the heel back to a slightly flexed position when they leap. I am not sure that a simple mechanical device can do that. But, a smart orthotic may someday sense a leap and send a small timed pulse to specific muscles causing just enough flexión to put the knee in a safe position.