Too much, too soon? Not realistic to expect a 19-year-old to make the All Blacks in his rookie Super Rugby season?
Rieko Ioane managed it and Barrett, by all assessments, is in much the same sort of potential star category.
In no particular order, the qualities that excite coaches about Barrett are his size and agility. At 1.95m, he's tall - just about as tall as brother Scott, who plays lock.
At the moment, though, he's skinny, slender and wiry but that's more to do with his age and lack of training years than anything else. Part of the plan in taking him to Europe was to expose him to strength and conditioning coach Nic Gill.
He is recognised as one of the world's best trainers and is expert at packing lean muscle on to athletes without them losing speed or agility.
Barrett could easily push up to 108kg and be more than comfortable at that weight. Building his body is largely what the summer months are going to be all about for Barrett.
He has been given a programme that is designed to ready him for the supremely physical challenge posed by Super Rugby. He needs to be stronger in the shoulders, through his core, and around the hips and main joints so he can not only be effective in collisions, but can also back up week to week.
Being that bit stronger should also help him with his explosive pace and his ability to beat defenders. He has footwork and vision - in much the same way Beauden does.
What's obvious is that Barrett has a bit of intent when he tackles. He's an aggressive, fearless defender and with a bit more size, he's going to be capable of inflicting some damage.
Most likely he'll be used at 12 by the Hurricanes. There's a view that may be his best position but he has plenty of experience and ability at fullback and there is even some belief he could slot in at No 10 if required.
If this all sounds too good to be true, it's not even half the story. Barrett is a goalkicker. A good kicker - probably, and this may have to be tested during Super Rugby, better than his brother.
He's got an incredible range and the perfect temperament. And it is his temperament that Hansen was largely taken with during November. The youngest Barrett was in the unusual position of being an apprentice - part of the squad and yet not, and was initially as nervous as he had ever been. It didn't take long for him to settle and it was his honesty, work rate and desire to learn that most impressed Hansen.
"Jordie is just one of the Barrett boys," he said. "Having two of his brothers [on tour] made life easier and so, too, because there were three or four of the Canterbury boys. But he's a pretty cool customer and he's not frightened to be vulnerable, which is good, because that is what we want for him at this stage. He's picking up a lot and he is going to be okay."
