Bucs Select OL Graham Barton At No. 26

The Buccaneers have opted for one of the draft’s most versatile offensive linemen. The team has selected Duke’s Graham Barton with the No. 26 pick.

Barton was a four-year starter for the Blue Devils, including his COVID-19-shortened freshman season, in which he was named a second-team Freshman All-American. After spending that rookie season as Duke’s starting center, he moved over to left tackle, where he would start for the remainder of his career.

Barton earned first-team All-ACC honors as a junior and senior and was a second-team All-American in 2023. He’ll have to make adjustments as he moves back inside at the NFL level, but his time at tackle will have helped him improve his pass protection technique.

In Tampa Bay, it should be assumed that Barton will come in to start at center. Robert Hainsey took over as the Buccaneers’ starter at the position since Ryan Jensen sustained what turned out to be a career-altering knee injury during Tampa Bay’s 2022 training camp; Jensen retired earlier this year.

In his second year as the team’s starter, Hainsey struggled greatly, grading out as the 32nd-ranked center out of 36 graded players, according to Pro Football Focus. He could also be asked to slip into the guard spot that Tampa Bay struggled to fill last year. Although, given that Barton didn’t play a single snap at guard throughout his collegiate career, it may make more sense to slide Hainsey out to guard and give Barton the center job.

The Cowboys and Steelers were believed to have interest in Barton, but he instead will be tasked with helping the Bucs’ blocking effort. After having no draft picks in 2020, 2022, and 2023, Barton becomes the first draft pick for the Blue Devils since 2021. He’s the school’s first Day 1 selection since Daniel Jones was selected sixth overall in 2019.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.