2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Graham Barton (OT – Duke)

With being more than halfway through the College Football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Graham Barton.

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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Graham Barton (OT – Duke)

Graham Barton (OT – Duke)

6-foot-5 | 314 pounds

Background:

Has been starting for Duke for the past four seasons, spending the shortened 2020 season as the team’s starting center (six starts) before switching to left tackle the following year, a role he’s held ever since. Started 12 games in 2021, 13 in 2022, and is also manning the blindside in 2023.

Positives:

Highly experienced starter who has taken extensive first-team reps at two different positions. Overall, polish and snap-to-snap consistency are readily apparent on tape. Fires out low and plays with impressive overall leverage to put defenders on their heels at the start of a snap. Has the short-area quickness to cross a defender’s face and seal them out of the play. Knows how to generate torque with his upper body, showing impressive play strength. Nice hand placement inside, with the work rate and grip strength to sustain through the whistle; once he locks on, it’s over. Feet don’t go dead on contact; nice churn to generate push.

Plays with toughness and a killer instinct, regularly finishing opponents when given the chance. Shows solid knee bend and width in his pass sets, giving him a strong anchor and good balance. Protects the edge reliably against speed with quick feet and sound technique. Proactive about firing his punch, with good accuracy and the ability to reset his hands. Works hard to get out in front and lead the way in the screen game.

Negatives:

Official height and length measurements will be important, as they could lead some teams to view him as an interior conversion candidate. Can be a little bit too aggressive at times; has a slight tendency to get out ahead of his frame, ducking his head and leading to some unbalanced play. Wins more because of his awareness, technique, and strength rather than being an ideal athlete for a pro blindside protector. Has been somewhat penalty-prone in previous years, namely 2022 (seven) and 2020 (five).

Summary:

A highly experienced and consistent offensive lineman with excellent technique and functional strength, traits that could make him a plug-and-play rookie starter at the next level. Draft stock will depend to some extent on whether teams project him as a tackle or view him as someone to slide inside to guard (where he hasn’t started in school) or center (where he has.) Duke runs slightly more zone than gap concepts, and while he could fit well in either scheme, his ability to overwhelm opponents in a phone booth might be a slightly better fit for a gap system.

Projection: Round 1-2