SB Nation writer J.P. Acosta revealed his top 50 prospects in the 2024 NFL draft on Friday, and Duke lineman Graham Barton ended up as his 37th overall player in the class.
Barton was Acosta’s ninth-highest offensive lineman on the big board, and 11 prospects from the trenches ended up inside the top 50.
Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson and Washington guard Troy Fautanu were the only two consensus interior prospects to end up higher than Barton on the rankings. However, Acosta also floated the idea of Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga shifting to guard, a position he hasn’t been projected toward as much during the pre-draft process.
Fuaga embracing a potential shift inside could impact Barton’s spots on some teams’ boards, but Fuaga has been a consensus top-15 pick for much of the draft leadup. His status likely won’t affect Barton much.
Barton gets the chance to further affirm himself as a first-round pick at the NFL Combine next week in Indianapolis