How Did Graham Barton Work Out As A Rookie?
June 24th, 2025
Ranking.
Joe heard a lot of football folks before last season, including Chucky and Brian Baldinger, rave about Bucs 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton and knight him as a future star.
Well, it seems Barton might have company as the best center to come out of the draft last year, despite being the only center taken in the first round.
The gang at the financially crippled The 33rd Team this summer decided to rank all rookie offensive linemen by how they prevented pressure. Barton was the third-best center in pressure rates allowed. Barton’s numbers were behind Pittsburgh center Zach Frazier (second round) and Dallas center Cooper Beebe (third round).
Joe has no issue with this ranking. Barton will be fine. He’s got a solid veteran to his left and a young stud to his right. He’ll be good.
If you think about it, is there a better young offensive line than what the Bucs have? They have drafted everyone but left guard Ben Bredeson. And only Tristan Wirfs is on his second contract.
June 24th, 2025 at 1:31 am
Barton was better than I expected. I watched him take everything the NFL could use to crucify a rookie center and he said. No sir , Not today!
We agree Joe our five are pretty dang good and can only get better. Paying them all could become a problem down the road. Frustrating that draft success gets you in salary cap problems.
Go Bucs!
June 24th, 2025 at 1:57 am
Barton improved tremendously over the year is the big thing. At the start of the season he was a bit overwhelmed, in particular with all the movement the offensive line does, but by the end of the year he looked like a different guy and I have no doubt he’ll be considered a top center in the league very soon.
June 24th, 2025 at 2:05 am
And to think what seems a lifetime ago this team thought they could just buy the best oline in the league. We had the highest paid front five and they couldn’t hold a candle to this current group. No offense to Davin and the krew back then, but hats off to our management and what they have been able to build. It’s gunna be a good season, feels right. Like something’s in the air.
June 24th, 2025 at 3:36 am
imagine if marpet was still in there at left guard as the wily ole vet of the line…
just a thought
June 24th, 2025 at 6:41 am
That is one heck of a line. I’m pretty sure that Goedeke will retire a few years after his second contract though like Marpet did. For a concussion prone offensive lineman every game is like brain salad surgery.