NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah released his second mock draft of the 2024 cycle on Tuesday, and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton barely snuck into the first round.
The left tackle, who is expected to play guard or maybe center once he starts playing on Sundays, went 31st overall to the defending NFC champion San Fransisco 49ers.
The 49ers, who have won the NFC in two of the past five seasons and been to two more conference championship games in that time period, have future Hall of Famer Trent Williams at tackle but need reinforcements in the interior.
The Niners are actually one of Barton’s most popular destinations in current mock drafts, along with the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Barton gets a chance to solidify himself further as a first-round pick at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis at the end of the month.