Graham Barton — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Barton meets the Packers' criteria for offensive linemen in terms of intelligence and versatility. He could play all five spots up front.

The disappointment is still fresh for the Cowboys, and it may be late-April before anyone in this organization feels better about it. Nothing against Green Bay, who has a talented young roster, but that butt-whipping they put on Dallas in Jerry World may be the most heart-breaking loss we've seen since the Gene Steratore made the infamous "no catch" ruling on Dez Bryant. Coincidentally, Bryant was taken with the 24th pick, where Dallas will be picking this year.

At the end of the day, the fallout from that shocking upset could put the Cowboys in a variety of positions come draft night. However, until heads start rolling in Dallas, I'm going to continue to focus on the holes our roster currently has. With 16 players set to hit free agency, there should be several areas this team needs to improve. I have been focused on the offensive line for most of the last five months. Really, there are three players I'm truly keying on right now. If Tyron Smith retires or finds a home elsewhere, I'd love to see Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga slide to this point. If we kick Tyler Smith out to replace him, drafting Washington's Troy Fautanu to play left guard would be a favorable choice, as he heads a list of tackles that includes Arizona's Jordan Morgan and Barton that I think fit better on the interior in the NFL. With Barton, I think he would be better served replacing Tyler Biadasz, who seems to be toward the middle of the pack of future free agents that Dallas needs to retain. He's skilled and smart, and plays the game with a bit of a nasty streak.

San Francisco has gone a little while since sinking significant resources into its offensive line. It used first-round choices on the unit in 2016 and 2018 before acquiring left tackle Trent Williams in 2020. The 49ers have relied on late-round draft picks and value free agents ever since.

The 49ers don't have any pressing needs, but they can shore up the interior offensive line with Graham Barton, whose versatility allows him to play guard and tackle.

A college left tackle, Barton will move inside in the NFL, and I'll bet he finishes as the top center on several draft boards. He might not have ideal length, but he has quick feet, strong hands and a stubborn finish.

Whether it's at tackle, guard or center, I expect Graham Barton to evolve into one of the league's premier linemen in due time. While some scouts remain up in the air as to where Barton will land along the front five (keeping his eval fluid), he plays with sensational balance, footwork, and is never late to ID a stunt or free runner. It's not a sexy pick, but he's the type of player that helps win titles.

The Dallas Cowboys need a few offensive line positions, and Graham Barton solves that. Barton can factor into the lineup at either guard position, as he's a factor to kick inside at the NFL level.

Barton has great pass-blocking sets, strong hands, and a proven ability against some top-tier talent. He's a plug-and-play guard right away while he hones his craft as the starter.

Both Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz are free agents. Barton could thrive at both tackle or guard (and possibly center) in the NFL. Some scouts will question his size/length for the tackle position — he's 6-5, 314 pounds — but 34 of his 39 career starts were at left tackle for the Blue Devils (the other five were at center). He's a technically sound, sticky blocker with quickness and competitive tendencies that deserves first-round consideration.

The Cincinnati Bengals have needs all over the place, but in this mock, they decide to take the best interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class.

Graham Barton played left tackle at Duke but projects as a guard or center in the NFL. He would immediately be a massive upgrade at left guard for Cincinnati and could eventually take over for Ted Karras at center.

Miami's offensive line is a mess and Barton is the best blocker remains on the board. He played left tackle at Duke, but could move inside at the next level thanks to his downright mean run blocking and ability to pull from his position and absolutely ruin a defender's day.

Robert Jones and Connor Williams are both pending free agents and the Dolphins don't have a ton of cap space, making upgrades along the interior of the line a priority. Barton's flexibility and experience makes him both a short- and long-term solution who can keep Tua Tagovailoa (... or whomever) upright while carving out running lanes through which DeVon Achane can explode.

Some scouts believe Barton could play tackle or guard at the next level, especially because he has played left tackle for Duke the past three seasons. But I see him fitting in best at center, where he began his college career. He's my top-ranked center thanks to his awareness and toughness.

Regardless where Barton ultimately lines up, Dallas could use someone who can move around. Tyron Smith is a 33-year-old free agent, and Terence Steele has been woefully inconsistent since signing an extension before the 2023 season. Barton has 39 collegiate starts under his belt and would help this Dallas O-line.