Three former Blue Devils hear names called, others sign undrafted contracts

During the recent NFL draft in Detroit, three ex-Blue Devils were chosen, and The Blue Zone is ready to review these picks as well as highlight some of the Duke players who went undrafted but were later signed.

Graham Barton, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

During his tenure as a Blue Devil, Graham Barton established himself as the team’s top offensive line prospect in almost ten years. Hailing from Brentwood, Tennessee, Barton excelled as a left tackle, earning First Team All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023, with early experience at center during his freshman year. His exceptional performance at the pro day led to his selection as the 26th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he is slated to play center. This pick marked Duke’s first first-round selection since 2019, when quarterback Daniel Jones was chosen sixth overall by the New York Giants.

Barton’s arrival addresses an immediate need for the Buccaneers, who have been seeking to fill the center position after the retirement of long-time starter Ryan Jensen at the end of the 2023 season. With Tampa Bay poised to compete for their fourth consecutive NFC South title after a surprising 9-8 season and a wild-card win in 2023, Barton is expected to safeguard quarterback Baker Mayfield and bolster a run game that ranked last in yards per carry. In essence, the Buccaneers have secured a talented and versatile prospect in Barton, who is anticipated to make an immediate impact.

DeWayne Carter, DT, Buffalo Bills

DeWayne Carter: The Heart and Soul of Duke’s Defense

For nearly his entire collegiate career at Duke, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter represented the heart and soul of the Blue Devils’ defense, which ranked near the top of Division I football by his redshirt senior season in 2023. “Mr. Duke” earned three straight All-ACC team nods, finishing his college career with 12 sacks, 126 tackles and seven forced fumbles. As such, the Pickerington, Ohio, native was drafted 95th overall in the third round of the draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Providing Depth for the Bills’ Defensive Line

Carter provides strong depth for the Bills on the interior of their defensive line. With DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver ahead of the depth chart over Carter, he may not earn a starting role immediately, but he should still receive quality rotational snaps. The Bills know the importance of the interior D-line as well as any team — in their 2022 playoff match versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Jones’ absence led to 172 rushing yards allowed in a disastrous loss. Carter can help shore up the defensive line in Buffalo for many seasons to come.

Jacob Monk, OL, Green Bay Packers

Jacob Monk: The Versatile Offensive Lineman

“Versatility wins again.” Those were the words of Packers superfan Tom Grossi following the selection of offensive lineman Jacob Monk in the fifth round, 163rd overall by Green Bay. He certainly has a point — Monk played as a guard, tackle and center during his five-year collegiate career at Duke. The Clayton, N.C., native earned a Second Team All-ACC nod at the guard position, and alongside Barton, he led an offensive line that graded as one of the best in the country.

Protecting Jordan Love in Green Bay

Monk may be asked to play a variety of positions on the offensive line, but the star pass protector will have the primary task of protecting quarterback Jordan Love, who completed an impressive — and relatively sack-averse — first season as a starter in 2023. In any case, Monk’s selection was the last from Duke, and marked the first time the Blue Devils saw a player selected in the draft every day since the three-round format was introduced in 2010.

Undrafted Signings: Blue Devils Find New Homes

While Duke only had three players selected in the draft, several undrafted Blue Devils signed with various NFL teams. Cornerback Al Blades Jr. joined the New York Jets, reuniting with fellow former Blue Devil Michael Carter II in the secondary. Defensive tackle Ja’Mion Franklin signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

Notable Signings

The most notable free agent out of Durham was wideout and return specialist Jalon Calhoun, who signed with the Detroit Lions. Calhoun, who earned a Third Team All-ACC selection in 2022, ranks fourth all-time for the Blue Devils in receiving yards. The Greenville, S.C., native will likely have to fight for a roster spot due to a solid wide receiver room in Detroit, but he could see time on special teams for a Lions group looking to contend for the Super Bowl this year.