Mel Kiper Jr.: Steelers may trade up for Graham Barton

The ESPN draft analyst says the Steelers will get their center

The NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Detroit, and we will finally know who the newest member of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be.

In his piece breaking down the 20 things you need to know ahead of Round 1, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. says that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be taking Graham Barton out of Duke.

“Barton, my top-ranked center, has been a hot name in my calls with execs and coaches over the past week,” Kiper wrote. “People in the league think he’ll be really good immediately at the next level. Pittsburgh, which picks at No. 20 and has had big-time centers throughout its history, is the team most linked with Barton (Duke). I don’t think it’s out of the question Mike Tomlin & Co. trade up a few spots to make sure they get him.”

The Steelers’ biggest need is center, as they don’t have a starting-caliber player at the position entering the draft. It’s all but certain they address this need within their first two picks, and it could very well be tonight in the first round.