Longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released an updated two-round mock draft on Wednesday morning, and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton maintains a firm grip on a first-round spot.
Kiper slotted Barton in as the 20th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, last year’s No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs. The NFL draft expert said the AFC North team could go a lot of different directions, but he thinks the offensive line is a reasonable thought.
“The Steelers parted ways with starting pivot Mason Cole in February, and taking Barton, my top-ranked center, might even be an upgrade,” Kiper wrote about the pick.
Barton would be tasked with protecting new Pittsburgh quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields should Kiper’s projection come true.