Bucs Pass On Dominant D-Line, Pick Guard/Center
April 25th, 2024
Bucs guard/center Graham Barton.
With Johnny Newton out there for the taking to make the Bucs one of the scariest defensive lines, the Bucs decided to draft a guard, or is he a center?
Duke guard Graham Barton is not a Bucs guard. It is the very first time Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has drafted a guard in the first round.
“This Joe” is surprised for a couple of reasons. The Bucs were one player for totally kicking people’s tail on defense. Of course, edge rushers were gone. Of course they were. One of these days, Joe will learn the Bucs don’t give a damn about an edge rush.
Another reason Joe is surprised is that outside of premium positions, it’s better to trade back from late in the first round to grab a guard the next day and dodge the expensive fifth-year option.
Will this pick make Rachaad White improve his sad yards-per-carry and worse yards-after-contact? Joe isn’t holding his breath.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Barton is going to be a center according to Licht.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Barton is a four-year starter at Duke and spent the previous three seasons as a left tackle. As a freshman, he played center and is a strong candidate to play that position in the NFL.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
All pro. Welcome to Tampa, Graham.
Go Bucs!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Really happy with that choice Need meets BPA
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Boring pick, could’ve gotten a center in the third round and taken Newton.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Another tackle convert project
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Our center for the next decade. Love this pick.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Boo f’ng Hoo
I welcome the improvement on the O line and the possibility of not being one of the worst run games for the first time in the last decade.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
BUHHHH BYEEEEE Hainsey!!!!!!
It’s about time!!
Hello Barton!!
Looks like we getting that physical Ryan Jensen play back on the team again!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Center at 92% hit rate in the draft….it was the safest pick at 26…..no more Hainsey getting pushed around
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Bucs pass on weak Oline and fix the whole thing. Go Yaya!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
BPA- Thats how it works. Great pickup.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Meh, the “expensive 5th round option” thing makes no sense… If you’re signing him to a 2nd contract, he’s probably gonna cost you even more. And it also gives you the ability to pick up the 5th year option but then work out an extension instead.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Get over it, Joe….
Barton will be our starting Center……and that’s a good thing.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Love this.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Wow. Butthurt.
No joy at all.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Shut up Joe, it’s the right pick. BPA, potential pro-bowl center
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Joe seems to forget the importance of a good Oline….
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Joe what are you talking about. Offensive line is an obvious weakness and considering we took JTS an Hall with our last two top picks it would be foolery to take another potential bust on D Line when a guy like Barton is on the board *facepalm*
April 25th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
hold onto this thread for when he’s the long term replacement for jensen.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
Offensive league. The Lions got as far as they did with no defense and no QB by having an elite o-line from top to bottom.
I’ll take the tone setter we’ve been missing to stop the game losing interior pressure we’ve been struggling with since Red went down. We may even be able to run up the middle for 3 yards instead of none.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
Stayed up all night for the Bucs to draft a center
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
What a bizarre article? Anyone paying attention knew the Buccaneers were going interior line. This is a guy projected to be center. A mauler who is intelligent. Great pick. I prefer Powers Johnson, but IOL was the way to go.
Why some thought they would take a DL is beyond me. They have Vea and Kancey and Logan Hall still in the mix who’s basically only entering his second year.
IOL or edge was the way to go
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
Hainsy literally played a significant role in Bradys decline and yet Joe is crying….smh
Joe, stick w reporting the news rather than giving your cruddy football opinions
April 25th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
The dude didn’t even care enough to make an appearance. The only player that didn’t.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Let’s just spend our top pick in the draft on defense for 10 years in a row that’s a great way to build a team lolol
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
While I would’ve liked a corner better, this guy was a consensus Top 20 player and you got him at 26. He should be a very good player for a long time for the Bucs. Ideally I’d rather see you get a center in the 2nd or 3rd round and use a first round pick on a premium position like corner. But they were picking low in the round and this guy will help , especially in the run game. Good pick by the Bucs. And again…a move from a gm that will help more now than 3 years from now. Licht again in job-security mode!🤣
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Between Barton and the free agent pickups we had our offensive line should become a strength rather than a liability. I love this pick. We needed a center and he was a good value pick too because he was supposed to go at #20 to the Steelers
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Ha! “Shut up Joe” indeed!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
It’s also official. The Bucs agreed with Bucs fans about Hainsey. Love the guy, nothing personal, but just not strong enough to be a starter.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Mayb the ummm the “loud crowd” knows a football?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Is snapping important to you?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Joe is the only one not happy with the pick. Go get Braswell or Isaac in the 2nd (for Joe).
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
A guard in the first round?
Lol..
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
good pick…yeah not a sexy pick to get all excited over, but a seemingly solid pick…
bowles likes to run and this guy should turn into a solid roadgrader between the tackles…
as long as they didn’t scoop up cooper blojean – i was legit worried for a minute…they had barton and dejean on the screen i was watching as the next 2 best available
April 25th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
All on board. We went from a limpdikk chicken-legged C to an 9.9 RAS mauling lineman with tons of experience. I hate a lot of Licht’s decisions but I’m board with this.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
They need an LB because of LVD‘s age and someone who is fast sideline to sideline and great against the run and covering is Edgerrin Cooper from Texas A&M.
No idea if he will drop that far in round two, might have to use one of the third rounders to move up. Could be long-term replacement for LVD.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
One thing is quite obvious. Somehow, Joe still doesn’t understand football.
DT is literally the deepest position on this team, across the board, but Joe would use a 1st round pick on another one. SMH.
Barton is perfect for this offensive line. I don’t care if he plays center or guard, he’s a massive upgrade.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:32 pm
You don’t know what you have until you see him play against NFL level talent. He may or may not get pushed around too. I think I will wait and make my judgement when he plays.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
I love all the people who are completely clueless trashing LICHT. One guy is saying “a guard in the first round?”
He’s going to be a center, first of all and if he was a guard, so what? Interior line was the biggest need on the team.
Thank God for LICHT and not some of these idiots drinking bud light and eating Cheetos.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:34 pm
Watch how much White improves at running back when a defender is not in the backfield as he gets the handoff.
Hainsey is good for depths at center and guard, But thankfully, he is not the starter anymore
April 25th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
No issue with this pick. D-Line, with what was available, would have been a huge reach, IMO.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
Newton made no sense. You’d be redrafting the same position 3 years in a row. Not a recipe for building a winner.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
Great pick. Expected to be picked earlier. Four year starter. Hainsey can move to left guard. If Mauch improves, this could be a dominating offensive line.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:36 pm
This was a fantastic pick. Out entire identity on the oline just changed. We now have a mean, smart mammoth at its center.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Unbelievable, exactly right. The whole point of a first round pick is that you get the extra year for a player that you expect to be good. That’s a good thing, not a bad one. Are we boohooing about Wirfs signing his fifth year option? Giving us time to work out a new deal? Silly talk.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
Is this clickbait? The interior line was terrible, and you would like them to draft another JTS or Logan Hall at the end of the 1sr?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Day 76, Joe Thomas, the third player picked in his draft, was out on a lake fishing with his dad when he got chosen. Who the f cares if the player makes an appearance or not?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
No pass rush. Not going far without it. Should’ve taken Newton. Oh well, pass rush, smass rush, who needs it? Reddick could’ve been had for peanuts, a proven pass rusher.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:41 pm
This Joe is so sad lol. A center was needed and YaYa our leader in sacks was not a first rounder. So there are plenty of picks left to address your concern. They’ll be some JTS’s and Long Hall day one picks as there are every year. We do have 3 more picks to get a quality starter or rotation guy
April 25th, 2024 at 11:42 pm
He’s not even a guard. He’s a former center who has been playing LEFT TACKLE.
He will be our new Center. We finally got a young, top ranked center in the draft!
Joe, this guy will open lanes at RB…don’t be surprised if we get a RB at some point.
Next pick? ILB or Edge!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:46 pm
@David Lichts first round draft history has been pretty dicey. OJ Howard. James Winston. Vernon Hargreaves. Devin White. Joe Tryon Shoyinka. All busts or bad picks. Logan Hall rd 2 pick 1 was a bad pick. He’s done better in the later rounds but let’s be honest, he won a Super Bowl because Giselle wanted to be close to Miami and Tom didn’t wanna pay taxes, and now he seemingly gets to be GM For Life. He’s been decent GM at best.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:51 pm
Not feeling this one. A 1st round pick converted from LT to center? Make it stop.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Kansas City shows how it’s done and why they will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy for a 3rd year in a row. Wide receiver was by far their biggest need, What did they do? Sign Hollywood Brown for peanuts and move up to draft Xavier Worthy. The need for pass rush was beyond glaring and not a damn thing was done about it. Oh well, Bowles can be happy now “pounding the rock” in a passing league with no pass rush to stop opposing teams. Opposing QB’s will be like Jared Goff and have time to order a sandwich while they move through their progressions.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Now we need to trade up in the 2nd for Dejean!
April 26th, 2024 at 12:01 am
The Bucs needed to get bigger, stronger on the OLine. Pretty simple. It all starts with the Boss, the Center on the O Line. Maybe this guy can play, maybe not, but anyone worth their salt as a football person knows if you do not win the line of scrimmage consistantly, you do not win. Being last in the league in rushing 3 years in a row speaks volumes about the O Line needs to be beefed up. Hainsey, who is not a bad player, but he is not going to cut it as the Center, sorry, Former Bucs Ctr, Joe Hawley comes to mind immefiately. Joe was a decent player but undersized. Thankfully Jason signed Ryan Jensen to fix that. And thankfully now at least Jason is trying fill a huge need. Time will tell. But Center was the right position to draft for.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:03 am
This is an awesome pick for us! Now we can go secondary and trenches all other rounds and fill the holes. In Licht we trust!
April 26th, 2024 at 12:04 am
Joes – take some nutritious alcohol. It will be better . Trust Jason.
You watch – baker might actually be able to sit on his spot and throw slants over the middle now. White might actually be able to get the ball and have a beat before some DT or A-gap blitzer has is junked wrapped around their spatula.
AEESOMS PICK
April 26th, 2024 at 12:06 am
QB. Offensive tackle. Edge rusher. Cornerback. Wide receiver. What do these positions all have in common? They’re all all premium positions and the Bucs don’t have young, cost-controlled, high draft assets playing any of them. They xould get bad in a hurry for a long time if they’re not careful or lucky. They’re playing with fire. Imo
April 26th, 2024 at 12:08 am
MS Bucs – you need to drink higher quality bourbon, boi.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:09 am
Joe I get where your coming from about the edge rush – but holy smokes if goedeke keeps improving and mauch takes the next step were gonna have a solid offensive line – Wirfs is already the gold standard – to me the one weak link was hainsey at center and this should shore that weak link up – can’t wait to see what the run game is gonna look like!!! AS ALWAYS ITS BUCS TIL WE DIE MY BRETHREN!!!!
April 26th, 2024 at 12:11 am
If Barton is a Center – he has the #1 RAS (athletic)score out of 617 Centers going back to the 1990s….
Most athletic Center in modern football history!
April 26th, 2024 at 12:15 am
Now the Bucs must select a real RB (Estime or Davis- Benson in my dreams tonight) to compliment Rashad White and Hunter Nourzad, along with Cooper (Dejean or Edgerrin) mañana. Run game upgrade is on- GO. ALL. THE. WAY.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:21 am
Sure glad none of theses idiots were making pics. Was excellent pick.
.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:34 am
A value DT just might be there, late 3rd/early 4th….Sweat…he’s got some off field stuff making him drop….a beast as NT. Just get him to grow up and he can be rehabbed.
April 26th, 2024 at 1:28 am
The only thing better would have been ric flair calling it out. WOOOOO!
This is a damned fine, full slap pick by JL! I don’t know about y’all but this olboy is breathing a bit easier tonight. Although I would have chosen jpj or Frazier it’s only because they are a bit more compact in height. But Barton was the pick by many others as top dawg in his position.. a top pick at the top need of our team. If I were still a drinking man I probably would be able to type this up right now.
Alright, ric flair will have to wait for round three, but I don’t have to wait to know our oline just took a big step up.
April 26th, 2024 at 1:42 am
Well Joe go beast mode YaYa–honestly he was huge last year as a rook–he is like a young JPP. maybe he will be even better. Stop whining–this draft is not an edge draft. Licht should of gotten Hassan Reddick in FA. Barton is highly touted.
April 26th, 2024 at 1:44 am
😅 basically no LG and an atrocious center, & you want to have 3 first round picks for two defensive positions. This is almost as bad as calling to draft Michael Penix 😅
April 26th, 2024 at 1:47 am
The Bucs found Barrett & reinvested in him, grabbed JPP, & invested premium picks in JTS & YaYa. You sure they don’t care or they just know how to build a team better than you do.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:44 am
Great pick. Absolutely fills a need.
I would love for the Bucs to draft a Guard next, but Im afraid that would send Joe straight to the Skyway.
Well done Jason Licht. Great start
April 26th, 2024 at 4:26 am
Hasn’t played center in 3 years. Would’ve preferred to draft Zack Frazier at center.
April 26th, 2024 at 5:50 am
Really??? Just ONE player away from the SCARIEST D line??? Duh ok! They had to get a “center” so that our rb who’s scarred of contact at the line can have bigger holes to run thru so that our Pro Bowl MVP shorty qb doesn’t have to shoulder so much of the offense. We all saw what happened against good defenses. Too bad Licht doesn’t know how to find dudes good enough to play the position he wants them to play.
April 26th, 2024 at 5:57 am
Gotbbucs said it all: Barton is an “A” pick for the Bucs! He’s just what our offensive line needs- and think of how much more our offense can do if, A. we have more time to throw, B. we can actually run the ball at a rate better than historically bad, and C. we have more time to throw AND can take advantage of playcalling and the element of surprise because teams might actually have to focus some on stopping the run rather than daring us to do it. What more can you ask for?
Meanwhile, our interior D line is already amongst the best in football. Sure we can use more edge help, but none of the top outside rushers were even available, but the best C was. It’s a no-brainer. Even if edge were available none of those guys look a sure thing like Barton does at C- and let’s face it, it’s an offensive game these days. You have a glaring weakness on offense and you have the ability to fix it with a single draft pick: you just can’t pass up that opportunity.
April 26th, 2024 at 6:01 am
Big Red: the reason Barton is rated so highly is because he is such a huge blocker with the skill and agility to play left tackle. Don’t worry: C is his natural position. He played OOP 3 seasons at Duke because they needed him to, and he was All-American playing LT! He was All-American C his freshman season! Don’t worry: Barton is a C through and through: he’s just THAT good that he can even be a top tackle in college too.
April 26th, 2024 at 6:08 am
Ok, I didn’t say that right in my previous comment… what I meant to say is that Barton is rated so highly at C because he’s got the ideal size and strength and is such a good run blocker, but he also has the skill and quickness to be an OT. We all know how important passing is in today’s game, so a C who is and A+ run blocker who can also pass block as well as an OT is invaluable. That’s what I was trying to say. His experience at LT helped him, it’s not a negative. Don’t forget his freshman year he was All-American C and he moved outside because that’s what the team needed him to do. He’s a natural C.
April 26th, 2024 at 7:35 am
appearances are for showmen and entertainers…like the first pick in the draft – and all his antics on stage…watch that painted nail guy flop out…
all barton has to do is adjust his nuts and play football…
no need to wanna jump up on a stage and hug a man who whispers in everyones ear “smile now son, but i always get the last laugh”…
also it’s a long walk from the green room to the stage – barton could drop a pound or two on the long trek to the stage, just to hug a man who will eventually levee fines on you
April 26th, 2024 at 7:52 am
“This Joe” sounds like he had too many Bromosas during the draft.
April 26th, 2024 at 8:02 am
This absolutely was a great selection at 26. We are fortunate to get him. Four years from now we will be happy to have the additional 5th year option before having to give him his mega deal. If you understand the game of football you would be extremely happy with this pick instead of whining about not getting Jer’zhan Newton. Did you happen to notice that nobody else took Newton in the first round either.
April 26th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Don’t know why people are upset the IOL was the biggest area of need for Tampa and we just fixed that
April 27th, 2024 at 9:47 am
Tyson says Joe wrote this to stir the pot. 🤣 Barton will be a solid pick. No scary DE’s left to go after. BPA and a dolid need. Anyone responding to this article isn’t reading the tea leaves.