The Pittsburgh Steelers' strategy for the 2024 NFL Draft is one that has loomed large over fans the past few months. It is no secret they need offensive line help. The question that looms large is, who will they prioritize with their first pick, a center or a tackle? Their Top 30 visits have revealed a keen interest in both positions, with names like Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon and Zach Frazier from West Virginia frequently surfacing as the top centers. These two players have often been heavily projected to be early draft picks for the Steelers.
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The Steelers reportedly "love" West Virginia's Zach Frazier.
However, a new contender has emerged: Graham Barton, who is rapidly gaining ground and challenging the status quo. This Duke Blue Devil was primarily a left tackle during his college career, but also showcased his versatility by playing six games at center due to an injury in his freshman year. Ray Fittipaldo pointed out that his unique skill set and adaptability make him an intriguing prospect for the Steelers.
Fittipaldo recently spoke with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson on 93.7 The Fan's Morning Show. In this draft, he was asked if the Steelers value center or tackle more highly. He feels that it, of course, depends on how the draft goes and who is available when it gets to the Steelers at 20, but he said the versatile young player is flying up the draft board.
"Right now, this week, the hot guy is Graham Barton. You look at his Relative Athletic Score, you know for an interior offensive lineman, not a tackle. For an interior offensive linemen, he is one of the most athletic interior linemen to come out in the draft in like the last 35 years. That projection of him moving from left tackle to center, who thinks he can be an elite player at that position, but it's a projection."
Fittipaldo said he understands that a center is a necessary position. Still, he can only see a team taking one in the first round if it is someone truly special like when the Steelers drafted Maurkice Pouncey.
Barton is 6'5" and 313 pounds and spent four years playing at Duke. His NFL Combine scores were excellent, particularly his athleticism score of 92. You realize how incredible that is when you compare him to the other top centers in the draft. Powers-Johnson has a score of 79 for athleticism, and Frazier's was an 81.
In his draft evaluation, he was praised for his explosiveness as a blocker and his good use of his hands. His toughness, athleticism, and consistency have analysts predicting he has the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
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Steelers' Nate Herbig at a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers need a center, despite the protestations that they can use Nate Herbig instead of drafting one. While Herbig has played a little center, it is not his natural position, and the Steelers already attempted to jam a square peg in a round hole with Kenrick Green back in 2021. This makes fans a bit nervous about not only the potential of using Herbig, but also about Barton.
Could The Steelers Use Graham Barton As A Left Tackle?
Most analysts agree that Barton will be a center in the NFL. He performed well when he stepped up as a center in his freshman year. But when his coach moved him to left tackle during his sophomore season, he blossomed, taking over 2,000 snaps over the next three seasons.
He is just a rare athletic player; some of the analysts said you could move him left, right, or middle, and he would be successful. That clicks with Steelers General Manager Omar Khan who said they highly value adaptability. They showed that in the 2023 draft by selecting Broderick Jones out of Georgia. Jones was meant to play left tackle, but ended up playing the majority of the season on the right.
ESPN
The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly really like Graham Barton.
It makes sense that the Steelers would be looking for a right tackle in this draft, and they have met with several. It seems unlikely they would draft Barton with the intent of using him as a left tackle, as Khan has expressed the team's plans to use him at his natural position.
What do you think of Barton? Are you sold on him as a center? Would you want us to draft him with our first pick? Click to comment below.
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