Graham Barton is the versatile offensive lineman everyone should hope their team selects in the 2024 NFL Draft
"Our best players were our best leaders. When your best players are the ones who care the most, and put the most time in, and are most devoted, then everyone follows."That's the one quote that star offensive lineman and first round NFL Draft prospect Graham Barton says he has stuck to throughout his football career. […]
"Our best players were our best leaders. When your best players are the ones who care the most, and put the most time in, and are most devoted, then everyone follows."
That's the one quote that star offensive lineman and first round NFL Draft prospect Graham Barton says he has stuck to throughout his football career. That's the kind of leader that he was for Duke Football over the past four years. And that's exactly why he is going to make one lucky NFL franchise very happy that they selected him here soon.
I had the opportunity to interview Barton here recently, and couldn't help but come away impressed. It's no wonder many believe he will be a first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But where did this star offensive lineman's NFL journey begin? What makes him such a special prospect? And where might he land and fit in at the next level?
Barton's Journey Began in Middle Tennessee
Graham Barton kicked off his football career at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, just south of Nashville, Tennessee. From Barton's sophomore to senior year, Ravenwood was one of the best high school football programs in all of Tennessee, much in part because of his stellar play on both offense and defense. In that three year span Ravenwood went 34-8, advancing all the way to the state championship game his senior year.
It was fun hearing him reflect upon his time at Ravenwood, seeing the big smile on his face when I asked about his dominant play at defensive tackle, as well as the offensive side of the ball:
"I mainly played left tackle. I played right tackle my sophomore year and then moved over to left [tackle] the last two [years]. Played center for a few games in there. And then yeah, I would play some defensive tackle. You know, in the playoffs and what not, throughout the regular season a little bit, and in some bigger games."
Barton was truly a versatile monster of a defensive and offensive lineman in high school. It didn't matter if he lined up at center, right or left tackle, or with his hand in the dirt on defense, he was going to make his presence felt. If you'd like to get an idea of just how unfair it was for most high school players to line up across from Barton on any given down, the video below features some highlights from his senior season.
As he continued to dominate the competition throughout high school Barton began garnering interest from some FBS football programs, ultimately earning more than 20 scholarship offers from top teams around the country. Even so, he was largely overlooked and underrated by many, earning just a three star recruit designation (instead of four or five). But he didn't let that hold him back at all.
Barton's time with the Duke Blue Devils
After choosing Duke as his college football destination, Barton put his head down, got to work, and when the time came he was ready to step up as a true freshman for the Blue Devils.
Despite having limited experience playing center in high school, when Duke's center at the time Will Taylor went down with a season-ending injury Barton was ready to step in right away. From Week 7 on, at the age of 18, Barton operated as Duke's center, playing nearly 500 snaps as a true freshman.
After Barton proved himself ready to play at the highest levels of college football head coach David Cutcliffe and offensive line coach Greg Frey decided to plug him in at his original position of left tackle in 2021. Once there, Barton flourished even more, going on to tally over 2000 snaps at left tackle for the Blue Devils over the next three years.
Although the Duke program struggled for much of his first two seasons, Barton talked me through how special it was learning and growing alongside fellow 2024 NFL Draft prospects like wide receiver Jalon Calhoun, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, and a number of other teammates he grew close to as they turned around the Duke program.
As the team grew together with new head coach Mike Elko at the helm in 2022, Barton's play began garnering real interest from NFL Draft analysts across the country. In his 2022 season, Barton only allowed two sacks, posting nearly 99% pass block efficiency according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
When I asked Barton about his development, what makes his game special, and how he wins this is what he had to say:
"I'm an athletic offensive lineman. That's how I win blocks. That's how I succeed. I get off the ball first, and I get to my landmarks. I play with velocity and intent…And you've got to have right technique. I'm not the 6'8", 350-pound tackle that some guys are blessed with, so you have to find different ways to win. It's not that it's harder, it's just different, right? You have to use your style and your body type to your advantage. So I try to win with my athleticism. I match people foot to foot. I go out and attack. I don't really sit back and pass pro and wait on people. I got out and challenge them at different angles."
If you ask anyone about Graham's style of play, they may not mention his height, his weight, or other measurables, but they'll certainly mention his aggressiveness and consistency, which he spoke to next:
"Consistency too. It's a big hallmark of offensive line play. And [it's] something I've always wanted to improve on. I think I have over the years, but, you know, going to the next level, taking that next big step. Not having your ten best plays up here and your ten worst plays down here…being all over the place. Just having a steady pace of play. Doing your assignment. Paying attention to details. Doing the right thing, play in and play out. And really put consistent tape together, game after game. And I think as you mature as a player that's something you really want to strive for. That's something I especially want to strive for going to the next level."
People can nitpick Barton's game if they want, but his aggressiveness and consistency to win with physicality and great technique are undeniable. Corbin Smith of Fan Nation put's it nicely in his post below. It's hard to not to fall in love Graham Barton's play style.
Barton's versatility sets him apart
As NFL Draft season has progressed, the one thing that has made Barton stand out perhaps more than anything else has been his versatility. Some scouts and NFL staffers seem to want him to play offensive tackle. Others guard. Others center. But regardless of which team drafts him and where he plays, it's evident many are confident he can succeed in a number different roles.
When asked about potentially playing in a variety of positions:
"Yeah, obviously it's difficult to be able to play all five [positions]… There's different stances, different angles, different alignments. There's different defensive fronts. A lot going on…So that's why a lot of these teams, they want to make sure I have the football IQ to play center and get everyone on the same page…I've done a lot of that with teams, a lot of board work, a lot of meetings, film work and stuff. And I think I've shown that I can do that."
And of course, because it's just who Barton is, he had to give credit to those around him first and foremost, humbly nodding to the contributions of his coaches and coordinators at Duke who helped make him the player he is today.
"Just coming from Duke and having really great offensive line coaches and offensive coordinators, I think I've been able to understand the game and kind of think outside of my assignment, but [also] how my assignment may affect the guard and center, who may affect the backside receiver or something like that…That football IQ is something that the next level NFL personnel…they're really trying to make sure you understand, and you have a passion for it, because that's how you win games. Everyone's talented. Everyone's skilled. It's how you win. It's trying to find small differences."
He wouldn't take the bait and tell me which position that he prefers or would pick if given the choice, but Barton did talk me through some of the players that he studies, models his game after, and others who have been a huge help throughout the NFL Draft process.
Learning and modeling his game after other great players
Lucas Patrick, a long-time NFL interior lineman for both the Packers and Bears has been a great resource for Barton for quite some time now. Patrick is a fellow Middle Tennessee native and former Duke Blue Devil himself, so the connection with Barton was easily formed.
"Yeah, Lucas also went to Duke. Lucas has just been kind of like a mentor to me…Reaching out, always seeing if I need anything, you know, advice…and just making sure I'm good…Lucas has been great. Just can't say enough about how awesome he's been, how great of a guy he is, and how much he's meant to [me in] this process. Especially just having that Duke connection with him. And then even going farther back to Middle Tennessee, and Williamson County specifically. So yeah, Lucas has been great. And that's been kind of a fun relationship to form over the past few years."
When I asked him about some players he studies Barton made special note of modeling his game after future Hall of Fame offensive tackle, David Bakhtiari. They "have similar frames, similar measurables", and "[Bakhtiari]'s style of play is something that [Barton] tries to take some influence from" at offensive tackle.
He also made special mention of former Titans' center Ben Jones. Jones has apparently been a great mentor through this draft process and was a "phenomenal center for the Titans for a long time" as many NFL fans will remember.
Then lastly, for good measure, he threw in a mention of Hall of Fame guard Joe Thuney too. It's clear that Barton is studying fellow offensive line stars at every position in preparation to potentially fit anywhere in the NFL.
Where Graham Barton will fit in the NFL
So, where will Graham Barton most likely fit at the next level exactly?
Some NFL Draft analysts believe that due to Barton's arm length (32.88") he likely slides inside to guard or center since historically offensive tackles have arms at least 33 inches long or more. But in the end, he missed that historical minimum threshold by an eighth of an inch. That's likely nitpicking a bit too much given Barton's 2000+ snaps of dominant experience at the position.
When I asked Barton about that specific critique of his profile:
"I don't think I've ever won with arm length…I think you win blocks with your feet…You can have the longest arms in the world, but if your feet aren't in the right place…you're going to get beat."
Barton has a point. Arm length is one variable in prospect assessment, but there are so many other foundational techniques that matter just as much, if not more. Overall, Barton doesn't seem too bothered by that narrative.
"I just think that arm length is not something I've used to win, regardless. The main thing is your feet, your core strength, and how you attack guys with those. And your arms come with that, but I've always prioritized making sure my feet are in the right place…And it's not something I can control obviously…these are the arms I was born with (laughs). So I don't get too worked up about it…They don't care what your arm length is if you produce on Sunday."
That last comment is the key. If he wins consistently on the field, people will forget his arm length pretty quickly. And if teams want to overthink it with Barton they can, but he is clearly talented enough to win at tackle regardless of his arm length. And based on the teams meeting with him this draft season, many are definitely looking at him to fit a variety of different roles.
The Cowboys, who have a potential need at both tackle and guard, have met with him formally on a handful of occasions. He's also met with the Seahawks and Steelers, both needing center and guard help. The Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Titans and other teams who all have a need at tackle have also spent extensive time on him at the Combine and/or his pro day too.
Wherever Graham Barton lands he's going to find success in the NFL. His leadership, experience, versatility, and long track record of success as one of the most dominant offensive lineman in college football will make him an outstanding pick for any team that decides to select him in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Be looking for more NFL Draft and College Football coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you'd like to check out some Graham Barton highlights from his impressive 2023 season you can do so here in the video below. Enjoy!
