USA TODAY Sports writer Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz released a ranking of his top 125 prospects ahead of the NFL draft on Thursday, and both of Duke’s All-ACC linemen from 2023 made the list.
Offensive lineman Graham Barton, an assured first-round pick, came in at 22nd on Middlehurst-Schwartz’s list, while former teammate DeWayne Carter finished 93rd in the rankings.
Middlehurst-Schwartz also released a final mock draft on Thursday morning with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking Barton with the 20th pick. A former left tackle with the Blue Devils, Barton is expected to move back inside after he played center as a freshman.
“His savvy should come in handy on the interior,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. “The 6-5, 311-pounder figures to be an aggressive yet composed blocker who can set the tone for an entire line.”
Barton would be Duke’s eighth first-round NFL draft pick in school history.