Graham Barton, OT, Duke
Size:
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 313 pounds
Arm Length: 32 7/8’’
Hand Size: 9 3/8"
Accomplishments:
First Team All-ACC (2022) • Academic All-ACC (2021)
“Graham Barton is an instant upgrade at virtually any spot along most NFL offensive lines. A day-one impact starter with consistent all-pro potential.”
Strengths:
Big-time finisher
Exceptional physical ability
Dominant run blocker
Positionally and schematically versatile
Wins pass reps with conviction
Concerns:
Primarily gets beaten inside in both run and pass
Occasionally drifts in his pass protection on vertical sets
Outside hand placement is occasionally late
Overall consistency in pass pro
Film Analysis:
Graham Barton was a really easy prospect to fall in love with. From the very beginning of my exposure to his film, I found myself deeply appreciating his identity as a finisher. In whatever circumstances, he has a knack for overpowering opponents and displacing defenders with the help of some impressive physical traits.
Barton possesses elite physical ability in both his speed/agility and strength. What immediately stands out is his core strength. This allows him to stay coiled throughout his progression as a blocker and greatly contributes to his ability to brace against defenders. Quickly following that, Barton’s hip incorporation into his blocks is textbook. After making contact at the point of attack, he flawlessly brings his hips and gets under defenders to re-leverage himself and neutralize the defender. These qualities are what allow Barton to be so dominant in the run game.
One of the things he does that separates him is his ability to manufacture power within different facets of the game. The way you create power as a playside blocker versus a backside blocker is different; when tasked to be a lane opener on the play side in inside zone for example, Barton uses a coiled demeanor and calculated attack to neutralize his defender and create space for his back. As a backside blocker, he plays much more downhill, using a low center of gravity and forward drive to re-establish ground on the defensive side of the ball. At the second level, Barton displays rare anticipation for defenders' pursuit angles and does a fantastic job of not whiffing or overreaching on linebackers.
In the passing game, Barton shows a lot of flashes. One of my favorite things he does is he uses a ton of variation in his set throughout a game, whereas primarily a vertical setter, he will often use a jump set or diagonal set to take the air out of the rush and will even parlay multiple sets into the same play. He plays with good foot repetition/reactivity and shows a good foundation of hand usage and strike confidence, but both are in need of improvement for the next level. The passing game is where Barton can make the most improvements in his game. For Barton to maintain or grow his draft stock, he’ll need to cut down the inside pressures. Oftentimes these pressures come as a byproduct of the vertical set, as well as poor anticipation of an inside move.
I mentioned earlier how it was easy to fall in love with Graham’s game and for me, it may be even easier to visualize his success at the next level. When I watch him play, I leave with no questions in regard to his demeanor, attitude, and football character. What makes him even more exciting is the prospect of moving him around to different spots. He has experience starting at center which opens up the conversation for him being a five-position player.
Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber
Exposures: Wake Forest (2022), UNC (2022), UCF (2022), UVA (2022), Pitt (2022)
