Graham Barton Thought Draft Ceiling Was Pick No. 15
April 27th, 2024
Bucs rookie center out of Duke University, first-round pick Graham Barton.
So what was in Graham Barton’s head on draft night Thursday?
The Bucs snagged the versatile offensive lineman in Round 1 at No 26 overall, and the beastly man from Duke University will start at center for Tampa Bay.
Barton told WDAE radio Friday that his ability to play all positions on the offensive line left him in a state of unknown on draft night. Barton wouldn’t say what teams he thought would select him, but he did say that he was dialed in on the second half of Round 1.
“Sort of [Picks Nos.] 15, 16 and back, I had interacted with pretty much every team,” Barton said. “So, you know, didn’t really know where I was going to end up but, you know, I definitely thought I had a good chance to go in that back half of the first round …”
Barton added that many teams viewed him as a guard and some told him they’d want to see him at tackle and move him inside depending on how he looked.
Joe loves the position flexibility. Yeah, in a perfect world Barton is a stud center for 10 years, but anyone remember Ryan Jensen starting at guard in 2020 when Ali Marpet had concussion issues? Joe sure does.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Goedeke didn’t work at guard but has solidified himself as a really good right tackle which means Barton is either center or left guard. Barton will probably start at center and Hainsey will battle Opeta for left guard. Bradeson as depth.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Welp I wanted them to draft the center first then edge, because all the talented edge guys would be gone at 26…..so no complaints from me so far. Even added a weapon in McMillan.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
I am still hoping for a real center to be picked
April 27th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Again the Ravens moved Jensen all over the OL his first three seasons before settlng on Center in year 4 and the rest as they say is history.
Short of injury Barton is the closest thing to a sure thing in this draft. If he stays healthy he’s going to be a stud wherever the Bucs use him. He has BRAINS, great ATTITUDE, great WORK ETHIC…he’s going to be fine!!!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
RB, Jason – RB!
No opening thread Joe?
April 27th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Dolphins just grabbed Jaylen Wright. They know how to value and use their RB’s. We are always late to the RB Party
April 27th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Wow. Joe must be hungover!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
stpetebucfan, I 100% agree!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Bucs about to pick!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
They just went on commercial, no way they do it for our pick THIS time, right?
April 27th, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Bucky Irving. A small running back.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
TRENGTHS: Shifty feet and cutting skills … runs with knee bend and low hips/pads to shake tacklers out of their shoes or spin out of contact … makes subtle yet controlled lateral moves to redirect course and find daylight, which also makes it tough for defenders to square him up … patiently shuffles his feet in concert with his blocks to burst through openings once they present themselves …
dynamic in the passing game with steady hands … takes care of the football (one
fumble on 553 offensive touches) … has experience as a kick returner and averaged 22.6 yards per return (14/317/0) …
April 27th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Ndog is , Jalten wright was my hope here as well. Still decent RB value though. We shall see very soon.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Bucky looks small.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Meh
April 27th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Another tap dancer….slow and small smh
April 27th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Compact and willful, Irving is deeply committed to each run his play-caller trusts him with. He punches above his weight class with excellent contact balance and leg drive to fight through tackles and squeeze every yard out of the run. However, Irving showed a concerning lack of explosiveness at the NFL Scouting Combine.
He is frequently in a rush and would rather run through a wall than around it but he does have the agility to make tacklers miss with wide, lateral cuts when he runs with better patience.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Brooks the tiny scat back. Huh
April 27th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Strengths
Built low to the ground with bendy lowers and a powerful base.
Decisive downhill charges create a head of steam for what is to come.
Possesses elusive features including spin move and lateral jump cut.
Good run-through power to break tackles and extend the carry.
Only one fumble over 486 carries during his career.
Average hands but makes an impression on the stat sheet as a pass catcher.
Weaknesses
Doesn’t have ideal size to take on the heavy collisions he sees each game.
Gets into too much of a hurry and rushes ahead of blocking development.
Feet fly outside his frame during change of direction, limiting cut fluidity.
Below-average press and finesse getting into his run-lane choice.
Needs to improve his protection technique to deal with NFL blitzers.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Bucky Irving won’t even see the field. Terrible pick.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Warrick Dunn 2.0… hopefully.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Interesting.
I was hoping for a RB in the 250 lb range myself. Hope he works out. Bowels looked pretty happy about it.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Not so sure about this pic but he’s not a tap dancing running back. He’s pretty quick and decisive.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
No thunder backs?
No Davis or Estime?
In Licht we trust I guess. 🤷🏻♂️
April 27th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Unless Cody Mauch bulked up in the offseason, I would like to see him at Center and Graham Barton move to right Guard.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
KABucs Says
“Warrick Dunn 2.0… hopefully.”
He really is pretty close in size. I think slightly heavier…but I think that’s a good thing.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Licht needs to let someone else pick his RB’s !!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Can’t believe there’s anyone in Detroit who was actually cheering this governor on stage. She has been a tyrannical atrocious leftist politician.
Just goes to show how little many pay attention
April 27th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Sean Tucker just posted another workout video.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
AlabamaBucsFan Says
“Unless Cody Mauch bulked up in the offseason, I would like to see him at Center and Graham Barton move to right Guard.”
Barton has played at LT and C…and you want him at a new position entirely?
I don’t know if I would personally agree. Sell me on it.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Another Muscle Hamster?
April 27th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Wanted RB but not 5’9 192lbs running a 4.55 40. Hope he can do something. Might be a miss here. Davis would have been awesome.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
NDog is an idiot Says
“Licht needs to let someone else pick his RB’s !!”
I don’t think this one was Licht. Bowels was looking extremely happy in that room.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
I can’t believe we just picked a small slow running back, is JL trying not to hurt RW’s feelings ? We need a big bruising back this draft is questionable.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Bucky-
14 G, 186 ATT, 1,180 YDS (6.3 AVG), 11 TD; 56 REC, 413 YDS (7.4 AVG), 2 TD
Produced. He’s not going to break tackles, but he is shifty and fast.
Ignore the 40 time. If you watch him play, the dude lights it up.
Hopefully, he can get up to 205 playing weight
April 27th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
HE IS NOT SLOW
Watch football not the combine people
April 27th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
I personally would have waited until the 7th and taken Carson Steele. Big hard hitting guy. We need a guy like that for short yardage.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
bummer! Tampa just went.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
Barton was a great pick, everything after that has been garbage. Braswell reminds me way too much of Noah Spence. hopefully he’ll develop (unlike Spence was able to do). McMillan was the 3rd best wr on his team, and knee injury could spell future bust. Tykee wasn’t even the best saftey on his team. Meanwhile S.F. picks 4 spots later in round 4 and ends up with the best sleeper back in the draft while we get a small slow guy. WTF!!!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Just watch his tape – looks pretty good actually. Still would have preferred a bigger back, but I’m no scout. This kid can move and has some nice moves. We needed RB and got one. Licht is on target.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
@ David totally agree!
I wanted a more complimentary back to RW like a bruiser too but this guy (Irving) was a sleeper pick on my board. Ppl love this guy! Measurables aren’t the greatest but he produces. Look at those stats, 186 att over 1,000yrds and it took RW almost twice that to miss the mark by 10 yards.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Sean Tucker really needs to show what he has. I’m pulling for him to take over the RB room and dominate
April 27th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
David, looks good playing against college boys, but at the NFL level he is slow.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
He can’t block either, wasted pick
April 27th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
I think JL is overthinking this draft a little bit. So many better players overlooked with the last 4 picks. Maybe the scouting dept needs to be overhauled.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Estieme may well go undrafted
April 27th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Well we just better hope our Oline is big time because behind a big time Oline any back could get yards.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Watching Braelon Allen run through tackles in his highlight tape. Isn’t that what the Bucs needed? Oh well…
April 27th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Damn good pick. The OLine is a strength again. Dropping to 8-9 wasnt a fluke, wasn’t Brady distracted, it was injured Jensen and FA losses on the line.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:55 pm
We dont have a left guard.
Start Barton at LG. Guess we have to live with poor center play for another year.
We needed a Guard and a Center. Unforunately, Jason Licht hasnt gotten the line right in years. Didnt get it right this draft either.
April 27th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Maybe Irving will win the kickoff return job. I always give away my pre-season game tickets but this season? That kickoff return rule could make something that’s a waste of time into something that may affect how games turn out. Naw, I’ll watch the pre-season on TV, special teams coaches will figure out a way to keep kickoffs boring.
April 29th, 2024 at 12:44 am
Emmit Smith’s 40 time was closer to 4.6 than 4.5 and all he did was set the record for career yardage. Give a guy a chance before you say he’s a bust. Though, then again, maybe unwarranted criticism from so called “fans” are probably what fuels him, what puts a chip on his shoulder.
April 29th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Yes I like the fact he doesn’t fumble and appears to excellent vision as well. 2 big Emmit smith traits. I like it if he’s tough enough to take nfl’s hits too.