The Buccaneers Select Offensive Lineman Graham Barton
April 25th, 2024
It’s an uneasy night at the Robert Hainsey household.
Joe wrote earlier this month about how there was a great chance in last year’s draft that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht wanted to select University of Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann in Round 2. But Jets general manager Aaron Rodgers picked Tippmann and put him in the starting lineup immediately.
The next offensive lineman off the board was Bucs guard Cody Mauch.
Joe wondered aloud if the Bucs signed veteran starting guard Matt Feiler just before last year’s draft because they thought they might have been able to grab Tippmann a week later.
Regardless, tonight the Bucs got their center. They picked Graham Barton out of Duke with the No. 26 overall pick.
Barton played left tackle primarly at Duke but he played center as a freshman and he’s projected as a center or guard in the NFL.
Even if you think starting center Hainsey is solid — Joe finds him serviceable — Hainsey is in his contract year and Joe suspects the Bucs have no interest in paying Hainsey quality starter money in 2025. His ceiling just isn’t that high.
Joe has listened to former offensive linemen in various media gush over Barton because of how he plays with an extra physical edge and has the skillset to play anywhere. He was a clear first-round pick on Bill Belicheat’s draft board tonight on The Pat McAfee Show.
When Buccaneers GM Jason Licht arrived in Tampa, he signed Aaron Rodgers’ center to a four-year contract in free agency, Evan Dietrich-Smith.
A year later (2015) he drafted Ali Marpet in Round 2 with a plan to move him to center eventually. That day came to start the 2017 season, but Marpet was a fish out of water. In 2018, Licht made free agent Ryan Jensen the highest paid center in football.
Licht proved again tonight that he values the center position more than most of his colleagues.
Barton is a beast at 6-5, 313 pounds with an aggressive reputation and noted work rate.
Joe sure hopes this means that the Bucs’ running game won’t be worst in the NFL for the third consecutive season.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
He just pancaked Verse on his highlights
April 25th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
Joe must be pissed. A center in round 1.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome aboard Mr. Barton!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Hate this pick. Going to bed. Jared verse owned this kid
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Yes, yes…..YES!!!
Very much needed & very safe………10 year starter..
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Much needed and safe pick! It starts in the trenches!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
:happy dance:
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Go Bucs!!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Bucs needed a Center… Oline is a must.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
I cant believe he fell to us! Powers only 1 year experience on O line was a knock I was worried about.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Love it!
LFG
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Tyg Joe!!!!!!! Now our Oline is Set and Running game instantly improved!
Very good night for Tampa Bay
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Wow! That was effin quick on the draw, Joe. I am impressed. Gather our friends and let us dance!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Love the pick.
Strong foundation guy with an edge and the ability to play all OL positions.
About as sure of thing we could get.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
It’s an uneasy night at the Robert Hainsey household.
——–
A guy like Hainsey who can be a competent starter at every position on the line are really valuable.
Also, I’m assuming the Bucs move Hainsey to guard, and if I think that he’ll do very well there.
But I like the pick in any case – you need a guard or a center, and this move got you both if it frees up Hainsey to move.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Tough pill for the Joe’s to swallow I’m sure… especially w Derius Robinson going the very next pick
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
At 26 an excellent pick. Get some mean back in the OL. Yee haw.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
I actually like this pick a lot and our GM has been good selecting offensive linemen in the draft.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
That’s the guy I wanted. Of course, I’m kind of a jinx when it comes to players I want the Bucs to draft, so sorry.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
He had no business being on the board. Yes, please!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Really like this pick. Our run game has been worst in the league two years running with Hainsey at Center, and I don’t think think that’s a coincidence. I think he’ll probably be better at guard.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
In two drafts Licht spent a 2nd round pick and a 1st round pick on two guards.
Wow. Low hanging fruit.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Didn’t think he’d be there. Good pick. I read more about JPJ and Frazier than him because he played tackle and I hoped they pick a true center. In any case I hope he is better prepared than Mauch was his rookie season.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Exactly what I voted for – outstanding pick
When you get the top player at any position from 26 in the pecking order, that is a great day!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Hey! I love this pick!!!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Still need a G
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Barton was the best pick with what was left on the board. Now lets go get Trey Benson and call it good!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Big ugly. Never bad building the trenches. Jason knows lineman that’s for sure
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Definitely a need addressed. Top player at the position to fill it is good for a late first rounder. Just needs to be right!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
YAHOO!!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Most glaring holes filled. Solid depth to
Now have the potential to be one of best Olines in league once they gel. Won’t take long.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
A round 1 pick should be an immediate impact and I think that is what the Bucs got. You can’t complain about that!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
Cobraboy Says:
April 25th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Still need a G
——-
No you don’t – move Hainsey to guard, and you’re set – he’s a better guard than center, and regardless of what the low IQ bunch think, he wasn’t a bad center.
This is a great move.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
#1 at his position. BPA and position of need. Love it!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
AMAZING value! Thank God for that fever in the beginning.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
How dare we fix our whole line with one pick lol
April 25th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
For once we picked the top player on the board when we picked…….
April 25th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Yeah, Cobraboy, we sorely need a left guard. We have three shots tomorrow. Celebrate tonight’s pick tonight with me! Wish I could text you a cold beer.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Gone are the days Hoe solemn bout no Running game whew
April 25th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Not mad at the pick at all … i wanted brian thomas jr but he was gone.
solid pick. its a bucs life real football
trenches!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
I mean Joe. There is our anchor Ira
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Great pick and just the attitude this oline needs go bed
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
What do you think Joe: Maybe Barton starts at LT his rookie year since that’s where he has been playing the last few years, Wirf goes back to RT, and Hainsey is the center for a year until Barton’s gained enough NFL experience to become the center?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Wanted JPJ or Barton as #1. I will assume the experts know more than me a HS 5A corner. Love the pick! Baker only needs .3 more seconds of time. I think he gives us that. 🙂
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Can’t be too mad the game is won in the trenches lol
April 25th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
The dude is huge. Somebody said he got beat by Verse. Thing is, at center you play against huge DTs with less space for speed. I’d preferred DL, but the value is undeniable. Solid pick.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
Really meant Joe. Exhales. Best LT in game no longer on subpar line.
Wirfs, Opeta, Barton, Mauch, Goedeke. Starting Offense much improved.
Sky is the limit
April 25th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
Edge, RB2, WR .. NFC Champs here we come!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:36 pm
Trench Warfare, Baby!!!!
April 25th, 2024 at 11:43 pm
What if Frazier is still on the board in the second round?
April 25th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Excellent pick, Licht. High floor, high ceiling. Center is the most underrated position in the NFL. You need a C to be smart and savvy, but when you can combine that with size and strength…? Hell yeah. This is similar to when Dallas drafted Travis Fredrick
April 25th, 2024 at 11:54 pm
I wonder if GirlsHairKen is more of a Falcons fan now that Michael’s Penix is a Falcon.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:55 pm
As Charles Barkley so wisely said in a late 80’s commercial: pick Right(ok, left in this case) Guard- anything less would be uncivilized. Well played Licht, Bowles and Co… Now, Edgerrin Cooper, Audrick Estime and Hunter Nourzad tomorrow. Nourzad has the best athletic web of all OL to me, has started at all 3 OL positions, incidentally was a perennial academic stud and most importantly is a viscious monster of a man-beast mover with his size, length, quick feet and anchor. Make it so.
April 25th, 2024 at 11:58 pm
I trust Jason Licht and from information available – he stole one. Didn’t hesitate. Took zero seconds to get the pick in when on the clock. Almost like he didn’t want anyone to tempt him. And the dude wears a man’s haircut. Gotta love it.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:00 am
Licht hits it yard again. Hopefully Coen can keep confusion master Bowels away from the kid.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:37 am
Guys the Bucs were 7th in sacks last year . They were 32nd in running the ball. This was the exact right pick . The Bucs were not just the worst in the league running the ball last year they were one of the worst in NFL history. Imagine Baker with a good running game now that hes matured. The guy threw for over 4200 yrds with the worst running game in the NFL. This is a great pick and the one I’ve been screaming for all of season .
As always Go BUCS
April 26th, 2024 at 1:22 am
What’s with all this center talk? This dude plays left tackle… We already have 2 starting tackles. Oh well, what do I know? Seems like a pretty big gamble to me. Just sayin….
April 26th, 2024 at 3:26 am
When he was picked the entire ESPN crew said they see multiple All Pro seasons in his future. Football is won at the line of scrimmage in the trenches. Build an offensive and defensive line and you will be solid for 10 years . Baker ran for his life last year. This is a great start. Now get an edge rusher, db/cb and another WR and this team will be formidable in the South once again.
April 26th, 2024 at 5:37 am
Great, Great pick. LFG
April 26th, 2024 at 5:45 am
Just what we needed: a warrior for the center of our offensive trench! Great pick! LFG Bucs!!!
April 26th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Some of y’all still will be blaming the o line when Baker plays bad !! Lol 🤣 next year most of yall will screaming o line in next years draft!!
April 26th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Great pick the IOL was the teams biggest need over any other position and we got a day one starter who has played all over the line. Was surprised we didn’t go with JPJ but I like Barton solid guy. The top edge rushers was gone and we didn’t need a wr with our first pick so Licht nailed it baby. Go Bucs
April 26th, 2024 at 9:51 am
Welcome to the Bucs! You are going to love the Tampa area and Florida as your new home base. Check out how many former Bucs keep a home in Florida. Buy your home with an eye for the future.
April 26th, 2024 at 10:01 am
To not recognize Barton as the right if not perfect pick is ignorant. A beast of an offensive linemen, who is versatile on the online he played last couple seasons playing tackle but center is his natural position. Huge guy with speed, tools for blocking,great FB IQ, and plays aggressive with chip on his shoulder, just how we like our centers. Great first pick already helping the run game & Mayfield, and bolstering the o-line. loving it, let’s go J.Licht. Fire the cannons and get us some more new Buccs !!!!
April 26th, 2024 at 11:58 am
Homerun! I’m a NC State fan (seeing as Duke is only 20 miles away at most) and have seen this guy in action he’s a road grader! Plays all the way through we’re lucky we got him especially if he was our target in the first round, because I’m sure he would be gone before our next round pick!