2012 NFL Draft safety rankings: Mark Barron and Robert Lester lead the way

by Dan Kadar on Sep 16, 2011 12:02 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

TUSCALOOSA AL - NOVEMBER 13: Defensive back Robert Lester #37 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs November 13 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

It's still early in the college football season, but now is as good of a time to update individual position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.

Alabama safeties Robert Lester and Mark Barron lead each position group. Both are playmakers and Barron especially has looked better in pass coverage. One of the players I have further down now than during the preseason is Maryland's Kenny Tate. His position at a pro is in question as he plays more of a linebacker position this season.

Note: The position rankings aren't currently in line with the site's top 200. After each position ranking is released, a new top 200 will be published.

FREE SAFETY

1. Robert Lester | 6'2, 210 pounds | FS | Alabama *

2. T.J. McDonald | 6'3, 205 pounds | FS | Southern California *

3. Markelle Martin | 6'1, 198 pounds | FS | Oklahoma State

4. Kenny Tate | 6'4, 220 pounds | FS/OLB | Maryland- Prospect notes

5. Vaughn Telemaque | 6'2, 200 pounds | FS | Miami *

6. Eddie Whitley | 6'1, 195 pounds | FS | Virginia Tech

7. Trenton Robinson | 5'10, 195 pounds | FS | Michigan State

8. Robert Golden | 5'11, 200 pounds | FS | Arizona

9. Tramain Thomas | 6'0, 198 pounds | FS | Arkansas

10. Blake Gideon | 6'0, 205 pounds | FS | Texas

STRONG SAFETY

1. Mark Barron | 6'2, 215 pounds | SS | Alabama - Prospect notes

2. Ray Ray Armstrong | 6'4, 220 pounds | SS | Miami (Fla.) *- Prospect notes

3. Tony Dye | 5'11, 205 pounds | SS | UCLA

4. DeVonte Holloman | 6'2, 226 pounds | SS | South Carolina *

5. Delano Howell | 5'11, 198 pounds | SS | Stanford

6. Harrison Smith | 6'2, 215 pounds | SS | Notre Dame

7. Brandon Taylor | 6'0, 195 pounds | SS | LSU

8. Duke Ihenacho | 6'1, 210 pounds | SS | San Jose State

9. Winston Guy | 6'1, 210 pounds | SS/OLB | Kentucky

10. Lance Mitchell | 6'2, 207 pounds | SS | Oregon State

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Comments

Any chance one of these safeties gets taken in the 1st, Dan?

Though he didn’t play week 1, I have RayRay slightly ahead of Mark Barron, though I could see either going at the bottom of the first.

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by BigBlueIntervention on Sep 16, 2011 12:47 PM EDT reply actions

Armstrong’s lack of experience is what keeps him back for me, for now. I think Lester could develop into a first round guy. Maybe McDonald too.

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by Dan Kadar on Sep 16, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Lester as a first rounder

Dude reminds me of Ed Reed

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by seton hall and steelers on Sep 16, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder who's secondary is better, LSU or Bama

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by Rorschach44 on Sep 16, 2011 9:29 PM EDT reply actions

Whats interesting is popular opinion is that Barron is a Strong safety and Lester is a free safety when in fact its the other way around on the Alabama defense. They are rather interchangeable but if u notice most of the Cover 1 snaps Barron is the guy that patrols the deep center field

by Redijedi on Sep 30, 2011 9:15 AM EDT reply actions