Tampa Bay Buccaneers land Chandler Jones in 2012 re-draft

Mark Barron never panned out as the seventh overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012; with a do-over they select Chandler Jones instead.

Pro Football Talk continues their offseason coverage, and this time they re-drafted the 2012 NFL Draft. This draft was full of busts, from Robert Griffin III to Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon, a ton of potential never came to fruition; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not immune to this either as their selection of Mark Barron did not pan out.

After being selected seventh overall by the Buccaneers in 2012 as a safety, Mark Barron only lasted two and a half seasons in Tampa Bay before being traded to the St. Louis Rams. He started 30 games for the Bucs, picking off three passes, defended 17 additional passes, and tallied 11 tackles for loss.

Since being traded from Tampa Bay, Barron has switched positions to a 4-3 outside linebacker and has made quite the career for himself given the circumstances. He went on to play four more years with the Rams and then signed a two-year deal worth $6 million annually with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.

Instead here, the Buccaneers land edge rusher Chandler Jones, who was originally picked by the New England Patriots as the 21st overall selection. Jones is a two-time Pro Bowler, and was named as an All-Pro in 2017 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Throughout his career, Jones has tallied 77 total sacks with double-digit sacks in five seasons so far. In addition, he has recorded 94 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 136 hits on the quarterback.

It is great to reminisce on past drafts and wish for a better result. For a team like the Buccaneers who have struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks over the years, Jones would have been a much needed help to their defense.