Revis adds $50K expense to departure from Jets

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Darrelle Revis has been all about the money since getting drafted by the New York Jets in 2007.

So even though the All-World cornerback finally got the massive contract he's been pleading for via a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Revis isn't done wheeling and dealing. (photo: NYCMarines, Flickr)

According to Uni-Watch.com, Revis dished out $50,000 to acquire his No. 24 from second-year Bucs defensive back Mark Barron.

Bills' national scout has high praise for safety Barron

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

With less than 36 hours before Day One of the draft kicks off, Alabama safety Mark Barron’s draft stock is rising.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed rumors late Tuesday that Buffalo was seriously considering taking Barron with the No. 10 pick, and he went one step further Wednesday, essentially guaranteeing that Barron wouldn’t be around when Dallas picks at No. 14.

Schefter said via Twitter that a number of teams remain interested in Barron, namely the Bills, Panthers, Chiefs and Cowboys. He said that there’s a possibility that Barron could go as a top-6 player or to Carolina at No. 9. Buffalobills.com’s Chris Brown chose Barron for the Bills’ No. 1 pick in his mock draft released Wednesday, stating, “the Bills take the top player on the board and select the best safety to come out since Sean Taylor.”

Barron in the backfield could easily give the Bills’ defense the best grade in terms of improvement in the off-season. Greg Cosell of NFL Films said that Barron “offers tremendous scheme and position versatility,” and that Barron’s tight end coverage is his best talent. Bills National Scout Darrell Moody went a bit further Wednesday.

Report: Bills 'extremely interested' in safety Barron

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

After weeks of back-and-forth over whether the Bills’ No. 1 pick would be better spent on an offensive lineman or wide receiver, there’s a chance the team may not go in either direction, after all.

WGR 550 Buffalo’s Joe Buscaglia reported Tuesday that the Bills are “extremely interested” in Alabama safety Mark Barron, as well as South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore, for potential top draft choices, according to a league source.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Buffalo sees Barron as a “playmaker” and a “day-one starter” in its current scheme. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly also has the Bills' attention, according to the source, but most of the focus has fallen on Barron.

The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Barron has drawn interest from a number of teams, namely the Chargers, Cowboys, Patriots and Jets. Nearly every mock draft and scouting report out there currently has Barron as a top 15 pick. Gilmore is not far behind, even going as high as No. 7 to the Jags in some projections. And Kuechly as the top-rated linebacker could easily go top 10.

Barron, 2 other defensive draft prospects, visit Bills

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Bills, who have been focused primarily on defensive personnel this offseason, hosted three defensive draft prospects Monday.

Topping Buffalo's visitor list was Alabama safety Mark Barron, who is considered the best safety in the 2012 draft class.

Taking on different roles in the middle of the Crimson Tide's defensive backfield, Barron amassed 12 interceptions and was the team's second-leading tackler in 2011.

“We played in a very difficult defense,” Barron told BuffaloBills.com. “We ran a lot of different schemes. As far as communicating, I had a lot to do with that on the back end. I feel like sometimes I brought some energy with the hits that I made and things of that nature. So, I did a lot of different things.”