The Green Bay Packers are likely to focus on offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, and former Duke tackle Graham Barton is basing his playing style on a franchise legend.
Barton has have become a popular choice in recent mock drafts for the Packers with the 25th overall pick. Now, a video from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is gaining attention after Barton stated that he emulated former Packers All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Matt Holder from Bleacher Report shared a video of Barton’s explanation via X.
“I’ve been watching David Bakhtiari for the past three years,” Barton told reporters. “I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from the way he wins his blocks. He’s agile, you see him get off the ball very quickly…He’s someone I’ve just tried to take some inspiration from. Lot of respect for his game and his style of play.”
Graham Barton Is the Ideal Packers Prospect
Even if he’s not the most attention-grabbing draft prospect, Barton makes a lot of sense for a Packers team that’s known for drafting and developing offensive linemen.
Barton was only a 3-star recruit coming out of high school in Tennessee before choosing to attend Duke. He left the Blue Devils as a two-time All-American and first-team All-ACC selection.
Despite being a smaller tackle at 6’5″ and 313 pounds, Barton excelled against competition throughout his college career. His agility, play strength, and competitive spirit make him a probable first-round pick, even if he lacks the ideal arm length to play offensive tackle.
The Packers typically prioritize players with exceptional athletic testing in the draft, and Barton easily meets that criteria. As a projected offensive guard, Barton achieved one of the best Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) on record, ranking third out of 1,532 prospects.
Barton’s comparison to Bakhtiari makes more sense given his measurements. While Barton is the superior RAS athlete, both entered the league as undersized tackle prospects projected to switch positions.
If the Packers select Barton, they’ll be hoping he can have a similar career to the player he emulates.
The Packers Require Assistance for the Offensive Line
Regardless of their choice in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Packers urgently need additional depth for their offensive line.
At present, the Packers have only one backup on their depth chart with substantial playing experience. That backup is Royce Newman, who some analysts believe might not make the 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
There are also concerns regarding the current projected starting offensive line for the Packers. Left tackle Rasheed Walker displayed moments of excellence in his first year as the starter, but some competition in training camp could aid his development.
Meanwhile, offensive guard Sean Rhyan split playing time with Jon Runyan Jr. in the latter half of the season, and it’s uncertain how he will handle a full-time workload.
The Packers have numerous uncertainties on their offensive line, so it wouldn’t be surprising if general manager Brian Gutekunst gives priority to adding depth to the line in this year’s draft.
