The Ringer’s Danny Kelly released a new mock draft on Thursday, and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton ended up in one of his most popular landing spots.
Barton went 26th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the new projections.
Kelly described Barton as “an unsexy but smart pick.” The former Blue Devil’s versatility has been praised through the draft process after he played both left tackle and center in Durham.
“(Barton) has the body type and demeanor to thrive at any of the three interior spots–which is where the Buccaneers need the most help,” Kelly wrote.
The Ringer writer compared Barton to Mitch Morse, the longtime Buffalo Bills center who just signed with Jacksonville this offseason.
Barton was Kelly’s seventh offensive lineman off the board in a stacked class, and he was the third-highest player from the ACC behind North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.