Buccaneers OL Barton Ready to Play Next-Man-Up

Buccaneers OL Barton Ready to Play Next-Man-Up

Following the first day of spring OTAs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Graham Barton spoke to media following a strong second season.

Barton, the Bucs' 2024 first-round draft pick, played 1135 snaps, the most on the offensive line, filling in for 209 snaps at left tackle.

On Monday, he talked about staying ready to play any position.

"The mindset's the same. They could ask me to come in here tomorrow and play running back, you know, and I'd be like, 'All right,'" Barton said. "That probably wouldn't go well for anybody, but you know, it's just that team-first mentality I think our room as a group has."

Last season, Tampa Bay's offensive line experienced multiple stretches without crucial starters, including All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs, who missed the beginning of the year.

Throughout the season, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch, and Ben Bredeson all missed time, forcing Barton to move around quite a bit.

Barton talked about the groups' plug-and-play readiness and the importance of staying healthy.

"In any league, any O-line room -- college, NFL, high school -- you gotta have that next-man-up mentality, right?" Barton said. "And guys have to be able to step in, and we had some guys come in and play good football last year.

"I think if everyone looks within themselves and, you know, gets to that point, we'll be in a lot better spot this year. But no doubt, health plays a part in that."

Barton was consistently available, playing the second-most snaps among all qualified centers across the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.