Regarded by most as the top offensive tackle in the draft, the 6-7, 320-pound Alex Barron is a tremendous athlete with a massive 7-6 wingspan who allowed just one sack in his senior season at Florida State. There are injury concerns here, including a torn ACL in 2000, fractured hands in 2001 and shoulder surgery last year, but Barron looks like an ideal NFL right tackle with the potential to develop into an anchor at left tackle. Some question his work ethic and motivation, while others wonder if he’s mean enough to dominate in the NFL, but the physical characteristics are all there. Still, the only way Barron winds up in Cleveland is if they’re able to trade down in the first round, but all indications are that Phil Savage would love to move down a couple times to stockpile picks. If they end up in the 10-15 range, Barron could be targeted.

The Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot says Barron’s college coaches believe he’ll be an All-Pro tackle one day while admitting that he has some growing up to do.

Dennis Gilbert from the Sporting News says scouts love Barron because he’s “fast, he’s huge, and he’s a gifted athlete.”

A February 2004 column from CollegeFootballNews.com tabbed Barron the best tackle in the nation while adding that he looks like the “prototype NFL tackle.”

For more on Alex Barron, check out these links:

Sun Sentinel

Tampa Tribune

ESPN

FOX Sports

Northwest Herald

Draft profiles:
NFL.com
CBS Sportsline
ESPN.com
FOX Sports
CNNSI.com

This is going to be an interesting one, folks. Nobody knows who’s going where — nobody, not even the players — which means there will be plenty of drama tomorrow afternoon. ESPN Insider is now reporting that the 49ers could pass on Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers, instead selecting Braylon Edwards with the first overall pick. The ‘Niners and Smith reportedly are far apart in contract negotiations, with both sides conceding that a deal will not be done by the draft.

This potentially is good and bad news for the Browns. If they want Edwards at three, then obviously this isn’t a good development, but if Smith is the top guy on their board, as some people claim he is, then Phil Savage could be smiling right now. Of course, if Edwards goes #1, the Buccaneers may very well trade up to #2 with the Dolphins to nab Smith, leaving the Browns in a tough position. Do they reach for their top defensive player? Do they try to trade down, hoping someone who wants one of the top running backs will be willing to deal? Do they take Mike Williams?

I’ve said all along that if Edwards and Smith are both gone and the Browns are unable to move down, Mike Williams should be the pick. This guy’s a beast (6-5, 229) and although he’s not a burner, he knows how to get open and make plays on the ball. I know everyone’s talking about taking a defender here but getting a top receiver like Edwards or Williams and teaming him with Kellen Winslow immediately improves the entire offense. You can get solid linebackers and defensive linemen later in the draft, but not receivers the caliber of Edwards and Williams.

Incidentally, ESPN’s Mock Draft had Smith going #1, Rodgers #2 and Edwards #3, with neither of the top-three teams able to move down. With all the trade talk swirling around, I’d be surprised if none of the top-three teams are able to deal their picks, but stranger things have happened.

He’s been pitching well of late, allowing one earned run in his last five innings while converting four-straight save opportunities, but Thursday night Bob Wickman coughed up a one-run lead against the Angels in the ninth and the Tribe went on to lose 6-5 in 10 innings. Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner each had three hits while Coco Crisp and Ronnie Belliard added two apiece, including a two-run homer from Belliard in the third inning, but the Indians had some trouble on the mound. Kevin Millwood gave up three earned on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work, then Arthur Rhodes allowed a run in the eighth, Wick blew the save with a run in the ninth and Jason Davis lost the game with another run in the tenth on an Orlando Cabrera walk-off homer.