Graham Barton finished the last practice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offseason program on Thursday morning, then went upstairs in the AdventHealth Center to wrap up some business as well. Barton signed his first NFL deal, which means the Buccaneers now have all of their 2024 draft picks under contract. Players may participate in offseason work without a contract but must be signed in order to report to training camp in late July.
Barton inked the standard deal for players selected in the first round of the draft, with four years plus a team option for a fifth season. Teams must decide whether or not to exercise that option in the offseason before the players' fourth season.
Barton followed second-round outside linebacker Chris Braswell, who signed his rookie deal on Wednesday. The Buccaneers had previously gotten contracts in place for third-round safety Tykee Smith, third-round wide receiver Jalen McMillan, fourth-round running back Bucky Irving, sixth-round guard Elijah Jenkins and seventh-round tight end Devin Culp.
Tampa Bay selected Barton with the 26th pick of the first round in April's draft. Though he played left tackle during his final three seasons at Duke, the Bucs intend to play him at center and expect him to compete for the Week One starting job. Barton saw extensive action with the first-team offensive line during the team's three-day minicamp, but he understands that the job will not be handed to him.
"I still have to earn it," he said. "At least in my mind, you've got to earn it every day and you've got to show that you belong. Obviously, that's what I want to do. I'm here to contribute just like everyone else. So my mindset is just to bring it every day [and] embrace my role. Just showing up every day and earning it each and every single day, never sitting there and saying, 'I've got it'"
The Buccaneers concluded their minicamp on Thursday and will have roughly six weeks of rest before the start of training camp.
