USA TODAY Sports writer Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz released a final mock draft ahead of the NFL draft on Thursday, and he thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers will take a chance on former Duke Blue Devil Graham Barton at 20th overall.
Barton, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs about 315 pounds, played left tackle over his last three years in college. He started as a center during his freshman season, however, and pundits think he could play anywhere along the line. Middlehurst-Schwartz thinks the legendary AFC franchise slots him at center.
“While Barton doesn’t have the towering build of some of his peers in this class, Pittsburgh likely would value his tenacity and efficiency,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote.
The Steelers emerged as a late favorite for Barton over the last week. They took over as his consensus landing spot on Mock Draft Database in the last week, and they’re by far the most popular match for the former Duke lineman in most draft day mock drafts.