The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be set on drafting an offensive linemen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, whether that is a tackle or center remains to be seen, and two candidates are rising above the rest Graham Barton and Amarius Mims.
But Gerry Dulac believes that Barton will be selected at 20th overall since the Steelers need a center badly. Not only do they need a center badly, but those three centers seem less likely by the week to fall to 51st overall, meaning the team either has to spend their first-round pick on a center or trade up in the second round. Dulac thinks they just stick at 20 and grab Barton.
“The only thing I will say is because they can’t wait until the second round because none of those guys that they like will be there, the centers. And the only way it won’t be a center in the first round is if before the draft, or before the first round begins, they make a trade to move up in the second round where they feel they can get one of the centers they like,” Dulac said on an appearance on the Under Review Podcast. “I’m expecting them because they need one and can’t afford to dilly dally. I think you’re going to see them take a center, and I think you’re going to see them take the guy from Duke.”
Barton played center as a freshman at Duke before moving to left tackle. With shorter arms than a typical NFL tackle, most teams are set to move him inside, and Barton did most of his positional drills at center, the interior position that he has played the most.
“(Snapping the ball), It’s like riding a bike,” he said at the NFL Combine. “You pick it back up. It’s a learned skill. Once you have that skill, you carry on. Definitely obviously going to keep working on that and being ready to go at any position and whatever a team needs from me. It’s certainly something to drill and work on and have ready to go.”
The Steelers have shown significant interest in Barton. They met with him formally at the combine, brought him in for a pre-draft visit and sent offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to his pro day.
Barton is considered to be a late Round 1 draft pick, with his current NFL Mock Draft Database average at No. 27 overall. The Steelers pick at No. 20, so they could be one of the earlier teams looking at Barton, or they could be considering him as a trade-back option.