• Bet on Graham Barton to slide past Pick No. 20: The Steelers at that pick have more pressing needs, and the other teams in that range are all relatively set on the interior.
• Take Joe Alt to be the No. 5 overall pick: There are few better options for the Chargers than Joe Alt, who at 21 years old dominated in both pass protection and run blocking.
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T Graham Barton, Duke Over 20.5 Draft Position
• Graham Barton’s implied draft position at No. 20 suggests he is likely to be taken right around the Steelers' spot. While there is steam that Pittsburgh views him as “a generational prospect,” it seems far-fetched for the team to take him there, considering the Steelers have many more important needs outside of their interior offensive line.
• Both James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo have been stable NFL guards for a few years running, and the team has massive holes at secondary receiver and tackle, making a selection at guard unlikely at this stage.
• The teams in the range for Barton, such as the Rams, Bengals and Jaguars, are all relatively set on the interior, so a team drafting Barton before the Steelers at No. 20 seems unlikely.
Carolina Panthers First Position Drafted: Offensive Lineman (+210)
• While without their first-round pick this year, the Panthers have committed to building their team around quarterback Bryce Young and will likely look to stack talent to better evaluate the 2023 top draft pick.
• From this perspective, taking a defender makes little sense. The team has already played into these cards, trading for wide receiver Diontae Johnson this offseason. That signals their intention of surrounding Young with talent but also makes wide receiver less of a need in the draft.
• Even after investing in the offensive line this offseason, the Panthers can look to use some of their acquisitions as depth pieces and stockpile talent. They still have needs at center and their tackles have been disappointing in recent seasons.
T Joe Alt, Notre Dame No. 5 Overall Pick (+360 FanDuel)
• With the hiring of new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have spoken about the importance of establishing the run game and winning in the trenches. But more than simply coachspeak, the team has signed multiple running backs, signaling the same sentiment.
• There are few better options for the Chargers than Joe Alt, who at 21 years old dominated in both pass protection and run blocking. With Trey Pipkins struggling at tackle, never finishing higher than 50th in PFF at grade at his position, this also fills a clear need for Los Angeles.
• The Chargers, of course, have a need at wide receiver, but the team can look to fill those voids in the later rounds while banking on 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston to take the next step next year.
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