Graham Barton NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
Duke Offensive Lineman Graham Barton - 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By markoldacres
Name: Graham Barton
School: Duke
Year: Junior
Position: Offensive lineman
Measurables: 6’5 ⅓”, 313 lbs.
Pro Day: ARM: 32 ⅞”. HAND: 9 ⅜”. 40-YD DASH: 4.95. 10-YD SPLIT: 1.68. 20-YD SHUTTLE: 4.55. 3-CONE: 7.31.
General Info:
Born in Brentwood, Tennessee, Barton attended Ravenwood High School, whom he helped to a state championship in 2019, before committing to Duke over offers from Michigan State and Vanderbilt. He was a consensus three-star recruit.
After injuries to both the starting and backup centers, Barton was thrown into the fire as a freshman at the pivot position, starting five games. He then started at left tackle for the next three years after winning the job as a sophomore.
The 21-year-old was named to the All-ACC team in 2022 and 2023 and was a second team All-American in his final college season. He had 39 career starts for Duke.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
Barton has good functional strength, helped by a lower center of gravity which makes him hard to push back. He possesses a firm anchor to dig in versus the bull rush and has the ability to bend his upper body to absorb blows while keeping his feet planted.
When going on the offensive in the run game, Barton shows power and torque off the snap, using his leverage to drive opponents.
As proven by the testing results he produced at his pro day, Barton is an elite athlete. He is able to easily shift his weight. As a center, this allowed him to redirect to new targets smoothly and quickly.
He looked spry and comfortable on the move as a center and was effective when asked to work in space. The Duke lineman posted a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of a possible 10, although his score is incomplete due to not completing the vert or broad jump.
Barton is light on his feet and is an easy mover in pass sets. At tackle, he can gear up to match an opponent’s pace and prevent them from beating him to the edge. Barton has strong hands which he can successfully latch onto opponents, controlling the rep from there.
The ability Barton has to combine effectively with teammates is part of why many people are projecting him to the interior at the next level. He is consistently able to steer defenders towards his help or away from danger.
He has natural instincts for preventing bad things from happening and is able to recover if beaten initially to keep rushers from getting home. Barton will scrap and do whatever needs to be done to keep his quarterback upright. He is a high effort player who blocks to the whistle.
There is an intelligence to how Barton blocks in the run game and he has the body control to consistently get in position to wall off defenders to create running lanes, both in tight quarters and out in space.
With experience at left tackle and center, Barton projects to have true five-position versatility, which would be a huge asset for any team who drafts him.
Weaknesses
Barton’s shorter arms cause him some problems. Defenders can get their hands into his chest at times or slip away from him after initially being blocked.
At center, he could be seen playing a bit over his skis and off balance, ending up on the ground as a result. It is worth remembering this was his freshman year though.
On occasion he could be late to react to a stunt or, at center, slow to decide where to help if his assignment was not obvious. At tackle, Barton can overset and be vulnerable to an inside move.
While Barton has enough strength to be a successful NFL lineman, he is not a people-mover. In his time at center, he was not knocking people back in the run game.
Despite his athleticism and ability in space, Barton does not do quite so well when asked to block while moving laterally or latch onto an opponent in the open field.
Fit with the Packers:
Overall, Barton is a high quality offensive line prospect with the tools to be a very good starter, wherever he ends up playing, for a long time.
Matt LaFleur often talks about getting his ‘best five’ offensive linemen on the field, and Barton would improve Green Bay’s ‘best five’ regardless of where he lines up. He could compete at center and guard immediately as a rookie, and perhaps at tackle eventually.
Reinforcements are needed on Green Bay’s offensive line, and picking up Barton alone could make those depth issues seem a lot less serious, due to his ability to slot in at different spots.
The Packers will appreciate his positional versatility and his elite athleticism, although they may be reluctant to select Barton in the first round, where he is likely to be drafted, if they do not think his NFL home will be at tackle.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (27)
LambeauPlain
April 11, 2024 at 05:31 pm
I like Barton. He'd likely upgrade the starting OL as a rookie and could be another effective plug and play lineman AKA Jenks and Tom. High upside.
Some are talking up Mims (GA) due to his massive 6'7" size and athleticism. But he only started 8 games in college and is what Mike Wahl calls "on the other side of the bell curve" because size eventually results in diminishing returns. And Mims would only play T...as a rookie likely be sitting on the bench competing with the other giant T prospects Jones, Tenuta and Telford.
Barton cracked the starting lineup as a freshman and never left the starting 5. Consistent and dependable and just a true Junior. Truly a BPA OL selection if he's there in the First Round.
Cheezehead72
April 12, 2024 at 05:43 am
Another knock on Mims is that he has been injured. We already do not have room in the tubs for him.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 13, 2024 at 10:11 pm
I like Barton a ton! However, while he could play OT in a pinch that is not his best position. Watch Barton play at OT trying to block Jared Verse....it wasn't pretty! I hope for an OT in round 1 (there is no need to identify any one player), but my other hope in round 1 would be for JPJ who could become an All-Pro Center. Then the Packers could keep Tom at RT with Myers competing at Guard in 2024.
If an IOL is taken in round 1 it is my hope an OT is taken with the #58th pick after either an LB or Safety is taken at #41. Depending on which RB is available in round 2 if I were Gutey I might shock Packer nation and take someone like Brooks, Trey Benson, or Jaylon Wright. Any of these three would make the Packer offense crazy good!
Alberta_Packer
April 11, 2024 at 06:08 pm
If Barton is not seen as, at least, a capable swing tackle - then is he strictly an IOL? If so, would he be the best of the IOL bunch (which usually follows the OT harvest) ? Because of these questions Barton is a Day 2 selection for me. Even then I may not select him - as I may be enticed more by OTs Blake Fisher and Cooper Beebe + IOL - Jackson Powers-Johnson and Zak Zinter.
Coldworld
April 11, 2024 at 06:29 pm
Per the combine:
Barton is 6’ 5’’, 313 lbs with 32 7/8’’ arms.
Tom is 6’ 4’’, 304 lbs with 33 1/4’’ arms.
In other words about 1/2 an inch in it!
Both are technically advanced with quick feet. Neither is a mauler it’s true. Can Barton play T. I think so, but the question is does he have as elite foot speed and technique? Like Tom as a rookie, he needs to add strength.
I can think of potentially better pure Ts, Gs and Cs. I can’t think of a player with the same level of 5 position capability though. That’s the rub, do we go for such versatility in the hope he’s Tom good or seek the best options at C and G and T too, if indeed we feel we need a full time starter at T?
I think a GM is going to see Barton as an immediate upgrade in the middle and immediately improved depth outside. Does that carry first round value? Quite possibly. Is Barton a means to use our early draft capital to the greatest overall effect? Also quite possibly.
Alberta_Packer
April 11, 2024 at 08:07 pm
There is value in Barton's versatility. However, in the first round, I'm looking more for specialized expertise than broad versatility in a player. So Barton at 41? Possibly. Unless a Tyler Guyton, or Jordan Morgan or even a Jackson Powers-Johnson are also available.
LLCHESTY
April 11, 2024 at 07:03 pm
Cooper Beebe is a guard in the NFL. Same problem as Barton-short arms.
Alberta_Packer
April 11, 2024 at 08:21 pm
Some equivalency with both players. However Barton is likely to be drafted before Beebe. If so, then Beebe might be the better value pick.
Coldworld
April 12, 2024 at 09:54 am
Beebe’s arms are notably shorter, 31 1/2 compared to 32 7/8.
That’s almost a 3 inch wingspan reduction compared to Barton and 3 1/2 to Tom. He’s also 2 inches shorter at 6.3. He definitely is a guard.
Loose terms like “short” are traps. It’s all a matter of degree and context. Barton is a very similar proposition to Tom. Beebe is not. Beebe would be my first choice in this draft though if the consideration was solely picking the best guard.
I would be pretty happy with both. G and C probably immediately upgraded and T depth improved too.
Cheezehead72
April 12, 2024 at 05:45 am
I do not see Barton as a swing tackle as he seems to slow and short for the left tackle position. I see him as a guard and center back up and he could be used as a right tackle because of his power.
Coldworld
April 12, 2024 at 10:00 am
Barton is neither short at 6’5 nor slow:
FORTY: 4.97 (P) (94%*) SHUTTLE: 4.55 (P) (86%*)
3 CONE: 7.31 (P) (94%*)
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 13, 2024 at 10:19 pm
Good points AP!
EricTorkelson
April 11, 2024 at 06:11 pm
Not a fan, saw him get thrown to the ground on to many videos.... not a tough guy ...mid round pick only
golfpacker1
April 11, 2024 at 06:54 pm
25. Graham Barton-OC Duke
41. Edgerrin Cooper-LB Texas A&M
82. Jaden Hicks-S Washington State
88. Dominick Puni-OG Kansas
101. Malik Mustapha-S Wake Forest
115. Khyree Jackson-CB Oregon
126. Zak Zinter-OG Michigan
149. Isaac Guerendo-RB Louisville
150. Garret Greenfield-OT South Dakota State
151. Khristian Boyd-DT Nothern Iowa
169. Myles Cole-EDGE Texas Tech
194. DeCamerion Richardson-CB Mississippi State
199. Tip Reiman-TE Illinois
245. Nathaniel Watson-LB Mississippi State
255. Tyler Owens-S Texas Tech
Made some trades-Filled all needs & and some developmental guys.
stockholder
April 11, 2024 at 07:00 pm
Seriously - Take Morgan over Barton.
Just a much better fit and longer arms.
Alberta_Packer
April 11, 2024 at 08:49 pm
15 picks gp1? Packers may have to bring in portable dressing rooms for training camp.
Cheezehead72
April 12, 2024 at 05:47 am
I hope you are joking as they are limited to 91 players. The more draft picks mean less UDFAs.
golfpacker1
April 12, 2024 at 01:20 pm
I will buy them a trailer and an extra porta potty. And if we can draft them, we won't lose them to other teams as UFDAs.
Coldworld
April 12, 2024 at 10:10 am
A draft that would mostly make me pretty happy, but a few quibbles.
I have real doubts about Mustapha. He’s a MIKE but he’s short and short armed. Very good rushing the gap but really struggles with reach and thus tackling. Has the same problem when trying to cover. Was exploited for big plays frequently by better QBS and OCs in college. One of the rare popular choices I’d run a mile from making.
Do you see Jackson being a slot ? With his stiffness I’d not want him at corner. He really struggles in man due to his stiffness. Reiman looks like he should be a beast, but just isn’t. I wish he was. I’d take Spann-Ford over him every day as the blocking specialist. If Zinter is recovering fully, that’s great value.
BAMABADGER
April 11, 2024 at 10:38 pm
Cooper Beebe in the 2nd round. He will be an all-Pro guard for a decade.
10ve 💚
April 12, 2024 at 12:02 am
"At center, he could be seen playing a bit over his skis and off balance, ending up on the ground as a result. It is worth remembering this was his freshman year though."
3 of his weaknesses are "from his center" years, from when he was a freshman. Those can probably be thrown out. I think one could safely say that a weakness at age 18 can be ignored when the next 3 years he was very good, even excellent.
GB@Germany
April 12, 2024 at 12:31 am
Barton would be a great fit for Green Bay.
But to get him, I believe they might need to move up 5 or 6 spots (Loosing a 3rd rounder at least).
As an alternative, I saw rumors, the Panthers want to move up in the first round.
That would be a perfect trade partner for moving down (25 for 33,101 and some swap of late rounders)
golfpacker1
April 12, 2024 at 01:34 pm
A trade with the Panthers would be attractive, especially some late round pick swapping where their picks are at the beginning of each round and ours after the 2nd round are all late.
Not to mention how attractive pick #33 would be to someone. Look at what we gave up when we traded up to #34 for Watson. I would absolutely love to have a job like that in the draft room.
gsd3
April 12, 2024 at 03:38 am
Was listening to Mike Wahle yesterday. While Barton tests well and Wahle likes him, he feels the two best interior lineman for the packers are JPJ and Zach Fraizer. Also stated that Myers could challenge Rhyan for the RG spot.
Coldworld
April 12, 2024 at 10:23 am
As I understood him, he was making the point that if we want to improve at C, which he believes we must, and are willing to pick early to do so then Frazier and JPG would be better first options.
Wahle will not willingly dismiss a player’s future ever: having called for such investment at C, the Myers comment was more one of not ruling him out of contention for a role while saying he needs to be replaced.
Leatherhead
April 12, 2024 at 10:18 am
I liked Barton from the beginning because of his versatility, and we're trying to put a line in front of Love for the next several years, and we could plug him in at different spots.
Despite the assertion that he's a guard in the NFL, he'll probably be a Center. That should make all the people who think Myers is no good happy.
Despite the assertion that he can't play OT because his pecker is too short or something, he was a 2nd Team All American tackle last year. IF Tom or Walker was injured, we could play Barton until the starter is back.
Of the offensive linemen that will be available at #25, I think he'd be the best choice. I'd still rather get the CB, because I think we can get good offensive linemen on Day 2.
golfpacker1
April 12, 2024 at 01:49 pm
The biggest dilemma that I see LH, is how long will we wait to draft our starting LB? We very easily could have to make a decision between 4 "Perfect Fit" players for the Packers @ #25. And we also could have multiple attractive offers to move back and gain serious premium picks for doing so.
The beauty of this draft for GB is, especially if we trade back, the 2nd and 3rd rounds will have great options at every position need we have. Trading back just gives us extra premium swings of the bat.
Regardless of what they do with #25, the LB decision will be the make or break moment for the Packers. Cooper has been the only visit, but he is not head and shoulders above Wilson, Colson, or Gray. Honestly Gray could end up better than any of them and is more than likely still there @ #58. We have a new LB coach who is supposed to be very talented, he should be able to fix any weakness the draft LBs have, other than Wilson's injury history. I would still take a flyer on Nathaniel Watson late.
Filling the giant LB hole is the most important pick we make, followed by shoring up the OL & Safety rooms to make us a complete team.