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Potential first-round lineman says he patterns his game after Packers legend
By Wendell Ferreira,
20 days ago
Graham Barton is one of the most popular potential first-round picks by the Green Bay Packers. According to ESPN Analytics , he is the fifth most likely pick with the 25th overall selection.
Curiously enough, Barton's main football inspiration is a Packers legend. During an interview to "Move the Sticks" , with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, Barton said he watched a lot of David Bakhtiari tape when he moved to tackle.
"Especially younger, going from when I was bouncing out to left tackle, I watched a lot of David Bakhtiari," Barton said. "I just think, similar measurables, similar play style. He's not a guy who wins because he's 6'8 with 38-inch arms. He's 6'4, 315, similarly built. He's a really athletic offensive lineman. You go back and watch, he's the first one off the snap. He's going out, he's matching guys foot to foot. He challenges their angles of their rush. That was someone I watched all my college career, just taking a lot of influence from him, because that was sort of my style."
Over the last three seasons, Barton played exclusively as a left tackle at Duke, but he also had interior experience early on. For the NFL, he's mostly projected to play inside because of his short arms, but Bakhtiari's physical profile gives Barton hope that he can play anywhere along the offensive line.
"It's different when you're 6'8, you've got 37-, 38-inch arms than when you're 6'5, 33. It's not that it's easier or harder, it's just different," the prospect added. "You've got to approach it differently. I've tried to replicate the things that I liked about his game."
In terms of athletic profile, Barton is a better prospect than Bakhtiari was back in 2013, with a faster 40-yard dash and more explosive agility drills. Barton is also slightly taller and heavier.
The negative difference for Barton is that he has shorter arms. Bakhtiari has 34" arms, against 33" arms for the prospect. Theoretically, the Packers would prefer not to play an offensive lineman with such short arms as a tackle, and he would presumably start his career at guard — maybe, a future transition to tackle could be in play.
David Bakhtiari, a fourth-round pick back in 2013, ended up starting at left tackle from the jump because the projected starter, Bryan Bulaga, tore his ACL right before the season. When Bulaga was recovered, he moved to right tackle.
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