Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton became the eighth Duke football player taken in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Barton with the 26th pick, hoping he can help replace the three starting interior linemen they’ve lost to retirement and free agency over the past two years.
Barton, who played both tackle and guard for the Blue Devils, was a First Team All-ACC honoree in each of the last two seasons.
Barton didn’t attend the draft ceremony in Detroit, but he got the call from Tampa Bay while surrounded by family and close friends at home. The Blue Devils released a video of the moment Barton heard NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell say his name.
The moment đź‘Ź @grahambarton53 x @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/Fh0NzYiL6e
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) April 26, 2024
Barton will join an offense with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin as Tampa Bay tries to win a fourth straight NFC South title.