Tampa Bay Bucs may be close to a contract with top draft pick Mark Barron

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 18, 2012

TAMPA — If safety Mark Barron is not already the most valuable rookie for the Bucs, he's certainly high on the roll call.

But the first-round pick from Alabama was notably absent when rookies reported to training camp at One Buc Place on Wednesday morning.

The good news is that Barron could be signed soon.

Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III became the first of the top eight players in the draft to sign, agreeing to a four-year contract Wednesday. That could begin a domino effect that will accelerate the pace of signings.

Barron, the seventh overall selection, can earn as much as $2.63 million this season and $19.1