2012 NFL Draft Grades: Mark Barron and Biggest Surprises in Top 10

Who knew the NFL Draft could actually be so exciting?

As it turns out, there was no need to pump up this year's proceedings. All anyone needed to do was tune in for the top 10 to see the draft go topsy-turvy on itself with board-breaking trades in an unprecedented clamor for the top talent coming out of college football.

These three, in particular, did plenty to stir the pot and make the draft something more than an unsatisfying snoozefest.

Mark Barron to the Bucs at No. 7

The first few picks seemed especially conducive to panic. The Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both had their eyes on Alabama running back Trent Richardson, but the Browns, with their bevy of selections and earlier spot in the order, won out in the bidding war for the Minnesota Vikings' slot at No. 3.

That didn't keep the Bucs from rolling with a Crimson Tide star, though. They swapped spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving another team the opportunity to snatch Justin Blackmon from the St. Louis Rams while putting themselves in position to pick up Mark Barron, the top safety on the board.

Along with a fourth-rounder.

Barron was considered a bit of a reach at No. 7, but with Tampa's problems on defense, the selection still makes plenty of sense. What Barron lacks in elite athleticism, he more than makes up for in intelligence, toughness and the ability to lend a hand against the run.

Morris Claiborne to the Cowboys at No. 6

Once Blackmon was off the board at No. 5, the Rams had no reason to stick around so high.

That gave St. Louis the opportunity to trade down in the first round for a second time, the first, of course, being the deal that ultimately landed Robert Griffin III with the Washington Redskins and three extra draft picks in the Rams' pocket.

And the second being with the Dallas Cowboys, who gave up their No. 14 pick and a second-rounder for what turned out to be Morris Claiborne. 

Jerry Jones has a history of fiddling with his first-round picks, and he certainly didn't disappoint this time around. In Claiborne, he added the best corner in the 2012 draft class, one who will pair quite nicely with free-agent signee Brandon Carr to transform Dallas' defensive backfield from an outright liability into an undeniable strength.

Luke Kuechly to the Panthers at No. 9

The Carolina Panthers didn't have to make any draft-day trades to take Luke Kuechly at No. 9. 

The surprise here is that the Panthers opted for a linebacker rather than a potentially dominant defensive lineman, like North Carolina's Quinton Coples or South Carolina's Melvin Ingram.

Not that the pick was a poor one in any way. Linebacker was as big an area of need as any for Carolina. Truth be told, this pick would've been well-spent so long as the Panthers picked up a defensive player who registered in the top tier at his particular position.

Kuechly had graded out closer to the middle of the first round prior to the draft, though mock draft evaluations won't likely make Ron Rivera and company regret picking up the Boston College product, especially once he takes the field next to Jon Beason on Sundays.

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