College Sports Wire released a pre-Combine mock draft on Friday, and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton ended up in one of his most popular landing spots.
Staff writer Ryan Roberts forecasted that the former Blue Devil would end up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who currently own the 26th pick in the first round.
Barton played tackle at Duke, but he projects more as a guard at the next level. However, Roberts thinks the Duke lineman has the chops to play center, a position Barton started a handful of games at while he was a freshman.
“(Barton) has the profile to potentially play immediately in that spot,” Roberts wrote, adding that he could help replace longtime center Ryan Jensen, who recently retired.
Barton currently projects as a late first-round pick, with most mock drafts sending him to Tampa Bay, San Fransisco, Green Bay, or Miami.