Justin Barron, LB, Syracuse
Size:
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 225 lbs
Accomplishments:
All-ACC Honorable Mention (2024, 2023)
“Justin Barron is a unique second-level defender with the versatility and athletic profile to make plays from sideline to sideline.”
Strengths:
Trigger
Athleticism
Pursuit angles
Acceleration
Zone coverage
Concerns:
Controlling speed in space
Stack-shed
Tweener
Film Analysis:
A former wideout, turned defensive back, turned linebacker, Justin Barron is a unique second-level defender with the versatility and athletic profile to make plays from sideline to sideline.
His ability as a run defender remains the ‘A’ trait in his game, however, his play style is different from traditional downhill linebackers. He takes outstanding angles to the football, using his length and fluidity to slip past blocks rather than take them on head-on. While he isn’t an overwhelming presence against the run, his processing and ability to diagnose plays allow him to be in the right spot more often than not. He’s quick to ID pullers and offensive movement.
His tackling is generally reliable, but he doesn’t always deliver the kind of pop needed to stop larger ball-carriers in space. Play strength and ability to shed blocks at the second level are areas where he still needs to improve, as bigger linemen can move him off his spot if he doesn’t beat them to the punch.
In coverage, Barron’s past as a safety is evident but there were not a ton of exposures of him in coverage opportunities that would translate to the NFL level. He was primarily shadowing RBs out of the backfield and asked to pursue downhill, rather than aligning in space, flipping in coverage, and locating pass-catchers over the middle of the field. Moves well for a linebacker, particularly in zone, where he shows good awareness and the ability to read the quarterback’s eyes. He can carry tight ends up the seam and has the range to close passing windows quickly. Hips are smooth in transition, and he doesn’t look out of place in man coverage when matched against athletic flex pieces. Good instincts, not great. While he is comfortable in space, there are moments where his anticipation isn’t quite as sharp as it needs to be, leading to late reactions against quick-developing routes.
Concerns center around his transition to the next level as a full-time ‘backer. At his mass, he lacks the bulk of traditional inside off-ball LBs, even in a day in age where hybrid defenders are prioritized. While Barron plays with excellent physicality and intelligent violence, his play strength can be classified as below the NFL average, and if he can’t add functional weight without sacrificing his movement skills, he may be limited to a sub-package role early in his career.
Overall, Barron is an intriguing hybrid defender who offers value in coverage and can be a rangy second-level player in the right scheme. He’s best suited for a defense that prioritizes speed and versatility, potentially as a weak side presence in a 4-3 or a nickel linebacker in sub-packages. His ability to impact the passing game will be his biggest selling point, but he will need to improve his play strength and block deconstruction to be an every-down player at the next level. In all, his trigger against the run and eyes in zone coverage showcase a player who should challenge for snaps quickly.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Georgia Tech (2024), Miami (2024), California (2024), Washington State (2024)
