It's not often that the Duke University football team selects its own players in the first round of the NFL Draft, but the Blue Devils have added yet another such player.
Former Duke lineman Graham Burton heard his name on Thursday night with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound Blue Devil plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Related: Two Duke Basketball products help steal home court advantage from Los Angeles.
Barton began his career as a center fielder for Durham and transitioned to the Blue Devils' starting left tackle for the final three seasons. He started 39 games for Duke football, earning first-team All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023, and was a two-time recipient of the program's Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
Barton's positional flexibility on the line, coupled with his four years of experience in the majors and exceptional qualities in the leadership department, makes him one of the safer offensive line prospects in a draft loaded with top options up front. It was regarded as
Tampa Bay was looking to acquire a young center after losing former starter Ryan Jensen to a series of career-ending injuries. So Barton's selection makes sense for both parties.
Graham Burton, 21, becomes the first former Blue Devil player to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2019, when the New York Giants selected former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick. And he is the eighth first-rounder in program history.
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