NFL.com’s Chad Reuter released a five-round mock draft earlier this week, and he thinks a certain NFC playoff team could make an aggressive first-round push for former Blue Devil Graham Barton.
Reuter had the Philadelphia Eagles move up to the 16th pick to take the Duke offensive lineman.
Barton played tackle in Durham, but he’s expected to move to center or guard at the NFL level. The Eagles lost future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce to retirement earlier this offseason. Reuter doesn’t just see him as a Kelce replacement, however.
“(Barton’s) athleticism, toughness and football IQ could allow him to step in at multiple spots,” Reuter wrote. “His play at left tackle over the past three years shows he can move outside if injuries hit that part of the depth chart.”
The 16th pick is among the earliest experts have projected for Barton, who typically goes somewhere in the 20s. Mock Draft Database’s consensus landing spot for him thus far is the 21st pick to the Miami Dolphins.