Tag: Miami Dolphins

DraftKings’ odds on Graham Barton gives a clue to where he’s going to get picked

A closer look at Graham Barton’s draft night odds on DraftKings Sportsbook could give some hints as to where the former Duke lineman is going to go.

Former Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton will hear his name called on Thursday night during the NFL draft. The two-time First-Team All-ACC nominee feels like as much of a lock as someone can get. Where exactly will he go though?

Well, if Duke fans take a closer look at Barton’s prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two likely culprits.

Barton played offensive tackle for the past three seasons, but between his slightly undersized frame and a remarkably deep offensive tackle class, he’s expected to play as a guard or a center in the NFL. The shift from combing through teams who need an offensive lineman to teams who need help on the inside cuts down the options.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″]

The two teams Barton is linked to the most are the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have the 20th overall pick, and the Miami Dolphins, who have the 21st pick. Both teams lost their starting centers from a season ago after the Steelers cut Mason Cole and the Dolphins’ Connor Williams walked away in free agency.

DraftKings offers a prop for whether a player will be picked before or after a certain number on the board. Barton’s odds overwhelmingly indicate he’ll be chosen before the 22nd pick — meaning he’ll likely be off the board by the time the Dolphins are off the clock.

Graham Barton’s Draft Position Odds
Will Graham Barton go under 21.5? -245
Will Graham Barton go over 21.5? +190

The Steelers also have -350 odds to draft an offensive lineman with their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and the Dolphins have -140 odds to make the same choice.

If Duke fans are circling a spot in the draft to start paying attention, it’s the 20th and 21st picks.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″]

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire

Which team takes Graham Barton in the latest mock draft from NFL.com’s Charles Davis?

Plenty of playoff teams could use former Duke lineman Graham Barton, but which team pulls the trigger (according to NFL.com’s Charles Davis)?

Former Duke offensive lineman has been linked to multiple playoff teams throughout the NFL draft cycle, but only one team can pull the trigger on the former Blue Devil.

According to a mock draft from NFL.com’s Charles Davis on Wednesday morning, that team will be the Miami Dolphins with the 21st overall pick.

The Dolphins routinely come up in connection to Barton, especially considering the injury history of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Miami lost two starters to free agency this offseason when guard Robert Hunt signed with the Panthers and center Connor Williams chose not to return.

Davis thinks Barton can take Williams’ role in Miami’s offense as the snapper.

“Agile physically and mentally, Barton moves from college left tackle to NFL center…and anchors Mike McDaniel’s lightning-speed offensive attack,” Davis wrote for his prediction.”

The Dolphins were also Duke Wire’s final prediction for Barton’s eventual landing spot.

Chris Grier needs to find another 2nd round gem in the 2024 NFL draft

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has found some stars in the second round. He needs to pull that off again on Friday.

The Miami Dolphins are set to pick with the No. 21 selection in Round 1 and the No. 55 selection in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL draft. With a first-round pick for the first time since 2021, finding an impact player on the first day is paramount for general manager Chris Grier. But to keep the team on track, the second-rounder also needs to be a hit.

Grier’s last two draft classes have only produced one immediate contributor out of the eight selected players. The 2022 class has not materialized well thus far, as Channing Tindall, Erik Ezukanma, and Cameron Goode have hardly seen the field for Miami.

Only 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson has made much of an impact when he performed adequate backup duties for Tua Tagovailoa and nearly pulled off a miracle road upset in the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills.

The true gem of the last two years is running back De’Von Achane, a third-round grand slam in last year’s draft. He was taken 33 picks after cornerback Cam Smith, who played the fewest rookie snaps of all the 2023 second-rounders.

That lackluster drafting means the pressure is on for Grier this week. Especially since, at the moment, the Dolphins are set for a painful wait from No. 55 to No. 158 without any picks.

Miami’s third-round pick was forfeited (along with a 2023 first-round pick) due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. Their fourth-round pick is belongs to the Denver Broncos as part of the package from the 2022 in-season trade for edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

Grier’s first ever second round pick was cornerback Xavien Howard at No. 38 overall. Howard played eight seasons for the Dolphins, earning four Pro Bowl nods and 2020 All-Pro honors, before getting cut this offseason to save cap space.

The general manager didn’t follow up that home run in fantastic fashion, though. Grier selecting linebacker Raekwon McMillan and tigth end Mike Gesicki in the second rounds of the 2017 and 2018 drafts, respectively. McMillan was eventually traded to the Raiders for peanuts, and Gesicki walked in free agency in 2023 after getting franchise-tagged in 2022.

Two other recently departed free agents, Raekwon Davis and Brandon Jones, were selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

In 2021, Grier made an excellent selection on Day 2 of that year’s draft. Oregon safety Jevon Holland was picked No. 36 overall and is currently in contract extension talks with the Dolphins after three stellar seasons. His second pick in the second round that year, offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg at 42nd overall, hasn’t looked as promising.

Whatever Grier decides to do on Friday will be predicated on his choice in the first round. Yet, with plenty of value at positions of need, several players projected in the 45-65 range could be viewed as excellent selections at No. 55 for the Dolphins. And Grier can’t afford to miss.

[lawrence-related id=472005]

Jordan Poyer jokes about facing Josh Allen in the open field during Bills-Dolphins

Jordan Poyer jokes about facing Josh Allen in the open field during Bills-Dolphins:

Jordan Poyer has moved on from the Bills but is still in the AFC East with the Dolphins.

That means he’ll be facing his former team who released him earlier this offseason twice in 2024.

During a recent chat with another former Bill, Eric Wood, on his podcast, Poyer gave his thoughts about potentially having to tackle his former teammate Josh Allen.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Poyer was confident in himself… but couldn’t hold back a laugh. Even he had to admit he has no idea  what he’s going to do.

Poyer’s thoughts can be found in the clip below:

[lawrence-related id=134463,134425,134420]

Final NFL draft prediction for where Graham Barton will end up

With the 2024 NFL draft close to 48 hours away, here is Duke Wire site editor Ryan Haley’s final prediction for Graham Barton’s draft night destination.

We’ve finally made it. After months of conjecture, rumors, and arguments about who will take who and which player is worth a first-round pick, the NFL draft is about 48 hours away.

While offensive linemen aren’t as subject to the conjecture as quarterbacks, former Duke Blue Devil Graham Barton still finds himself in the mix of takes from the bottom of the first round.

The former tackle, who is expected to play guard in the NFL, will almost assuredly hear his name called during Thursday’s opening round. However, with playoff teams all over the board needing more help along the inside, where is he going to go?

Barton’s most popular pairing keeps shifting around. Over the winter, he was frequently connected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 26th pick after they lost two interior starters over the past two seasons. The Miami Dolphins began to emerge as a popular spot at No. 21 earlier this month after they lost guard Robert Hunt and center Connor Williams to free agency, and the past few days have seen the Pittsburgh Steelers step forward as a potential candidate.

We’ve already broken down Barton’s five most likely spots based on team need and the rumor mill, but only one squad can have him. So who will it be?

If you asked me right now, I don’t think any team in the top 20 makes a move on Barton. A lot of teams in that range need offensive line help, but outside of Seattle, none of them can afford to pass up on a loaded offensive tackle class. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt might be the only one taken in the top 10, but I truly think half of the 11-20 range could be tackle prospects.

Pittsburgh could very well prioritize Barton’s versatility, especially after cutting starter Mason Cole this offseason. In a loaded year at tackle and receiver, though, I think the Steelers look elsewhere.

Which leaves the Miami Dolphins.

Just like Seattle, the Dolphins are in the luxurious spots of being able to prioritize center or guard early in the draft. Between Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they don’t need to touch the wideout prospects. With Terron Armstead at tackle, they don’t need to touch the other deep position in this year’s pool. The defense is littered with top talent, even with the departure of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

On top of all of that, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa battled multiple injuries across his collegiate and professional careers thus far. Barton’s ability to play all five spots on the line and his technical soundness make him a potential anchor for the next decade, and I don’t think the Dolphins let him get past them.

FINAL PREDICTION: Miami Dolphins (21st overall)

Tyreek Hill felt ‘disrespected’ when Chiefs gave his No. 10 jersey to Isiah Pacheco

On a recent podcast appearance, Tyreek Hill said he felt “disrespected” when the #Chiefs gave his No. 10 jersey to Isiah Pacheco

The Kansas City Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories have placed them in elite company in NFL history. The players involved in the triumph, along with those who battled Kansas City throughout the period, have had plenty to say this offseason.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill began his career in Kansas City and played against his former teammates during those two seasons. He appeared on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast to share his thoughts on the last two years and Isiah Pacheco’s taking jersey number ten after his departure.

“Yeah, man, Kansas City [has] got a [really] good running back today. You can hear and see every step he takes, [they are] so hard,” Hill said of Pacheco. “I did feel disrespected when they gave him ten, tho I didn’t like that. There should be only one ten in your heart, man.”

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5375″ ]

Hill had many great seasons in Kansas City, with the No. 10 jersey becoming a popular item at games at Arrowhead Stadium. He spoke about not wanting to watch Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“The first year that they went [to the Super Bowl], my wife and I took a trip to Tokyo because it was kind of hard for me,” Hill explained. “I don’t want to look at no game. Oh, well. Let’s just go to Tokyo. Let’s get away from it. Right, and let’s do our thing. So we went to Tokyo for the first year. And when they won, I reached out to all the guys.

“I’m like, ‘Man, I’m happy for y’all. I’m proud of all of you.’ But the second year, this year, when they won, like I watched the whole game, I’m like, ‘Y’all, we gotta win this thing, you feel me?’ I’m cool. Nah, but the first year it was kind of hard, I’m saying, trying to get over that hump of seeing the guys, do they thing out there.”

Hill’s departure before the 2022 season appeared sudden when the trade was announced with the Miami Dolphins. He reiterated in the interview that he desired to remain with the Chiefs during contract negotiations.

“I wanted to be in KC 100 percent. Yeah, 100 percent,” said Hill. “Before we even knew about the Dolphins. Yeah, I wanted to be in Kansas City, I told them that.”

The Chiefs defeated Hill’s Dolphins twice last season en route to the Super Bowl LVIII title. He ranks as one of the best wide receivers in franchise history.

Jordan Poyer explains what his lasting memory will be from time with Bills

Poyer still appreciates #BillsMafia:

Jordan Poyer has departed the Buffalo Bills but he will always have a special place for his former team.

Poyer was released by the Bills after the 2023 season in a salary cap move. He ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins.

Poyer recently joined another former Bill, Eric Wood, on his podcast. Wood asked Poyer his lasting memory of Buffalo.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Poyer had tremendous moments on the field after he signed with the Bills in 2017. However, Poyer noted that his lasting thought on Bills Mafia and the Buffalo community will be how they generally embraced him and supported him during his battle with alcoholism was what meant the most to him.

Poyer’s full thoughts can be found in the clip below:

[lawrence-related id=134395,134390,134363]

Adam Schefter: ‘Resolution coming soon’ in Kirk Cousins tampering case

According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, the NFL could come down with punishment for the Atlanta Falcons this week in their tampering case.

The NFL draft starts on Thursday, and the event could be in for a big shakeup. And no, we’re not talking about the Minnesota Vikings trading up for a quarterback — for once. Instead, we’re talking about a former Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and the league’s tampering investigation centered on his signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league could conclude its investigation and hand down the punishment as early as this week, which could have an effect on the first round of the draft. There is precedent for the league to take away a team’s draft picks for tampering.

The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in last year’s draft, along with a third-round pick in this year’s draft, in two separate tampering cases involving former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former Saints head coach Sean Payton. That punishment was handed down in August 2022.

Before that, the league stripped the Kansas City Chiefs of a third-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-round selection in 2017 for their tampering with former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.

In both cases, members of the coaching staffs and/or front office personnel received fines in addition to the draft pick forfeitures. Schefter reports that there are some sources who believe that the punishment for the Falcons is “likely to involve draft picks” and “is expected to be more severe.”

However severe the punishment winds up being, it’s probably unlikely the league would grant the Minnesota Vikings any compensation despite rumors that Minnesota could be granted the Falcons’ selection, which is currently No. 8 in Thursday’s first round.

Graham Barton headed to AFC contender in Touchdown Wire’s latest mock draft

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon teamed up for a mock draft on Monday morning, but which playoff team took Graham Barton?

With the NFL draft just days away, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon teamed up for a one-round mock draft on Monday morning.

In their projection, the duo had Graham Barton go to the Miami Dolphins with the 21st pick.

“Barton is the best center in the draft even though he played left tackle pretty darn well at Duke, but I think his best NFL fit might be at left guard,” Risdon wrote. “You’re welcome, Tua.”

Miami emerged as a popular prediction for Barton after the Dolphins lost two interior starters during free agency. USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis forecasted that Barton would go in the same spot on his Monday morning mock.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could certainly use the extra assistance as he’s battled issues with injuries and concussions since entering the league.

The NFL draft kicks off with the opening round on Thursday night.

Graham Barton ends up in familiar spot in latest USA TODAY Sports mock draft

In Nate Davis’s latest NFL mock draft for USA TODAY Sports, Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton ended up on an AFC playoff team he’s frequently linked to.

USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis released an updated NFL mock draft on Monday morning, and he forecasted Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton would end up in his most likely landing spot.

Davis had Barton go 21st overall to the Miami Dolphins, an AFC wild-card team during the 2023 season.

At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds with shorter arms, Barton seems better suited for the interior in the NFL. However, since he started both at left tackle and center in Durham, his versatility is frequently praised by scouts.

Davis, however, just thinks Miami needs all the help it can get on the inside. The Dolphins lost starting guard Robert Hunt to the Panthers and center Connor Williams remains a free agent and seems unlikely to return.

Barton was the fifth of 10 offensive linemen drafted in Davis’s first 32 selections. He was one of three guard prospects to go in the first round alongside Washington’s Troy Fautanu (No. 18 to the Cincinnati Bengals) and Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson (No. 24 to the Dallas Cowboys).