As the saying goes, if humans don’t study history, they are condemned to repeat it. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, they would love a bit of recent history to repeat itself. In his newest NFL mock draft, SI.com’s All NFL Draft’s Luke Easterling predicted the Steelers to select Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson at No. 20 overall.
It’s still early in the draft process, but Powers-Johnson is drawing comparisons to former Steelers All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey.
“Pittsburgh could go offensive tackle in the first round for the second year in a row, but they also need an upgrade at center,” Easterling wrote. “New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will want to re-establish a physical identity centered around a dominant ground game, and Powers-Johnson will set that kind of tone in the trenches.”
SB Nation’s Michael Beck connected Powers-Johnson’s potential to that of Pouncey. The former Steelers center made first-team All-Pro twice and second-team All-Pro three times in his 11-year career.
“Do you remember the immediate boost Maurkice Pouncey was to the Steelers offense when he was drafted? Beck wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I really think Powers-Johnson has that same potential.”
How Center Jackson Powers-Johnson Could Fit With the Pittsburgh Steelers
If the Steelers draft an offensive lineman in the first round, an offensive tackle would be the most obvious choice. Even if 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones switches to left tackle, the Steelers could then use an upgrade at right tackle.
But as Easterling explained, center is another spot where Pittsburgh could get a lot better.
Steelers incumbent center Mason Cole struggled significantly in 2023. Cole has recorded a PFF grade of below 60 in four of his six NFL seasons. Then in 2023, he had a career-low 53.2 grade.
Among centers with more than 1,000 snaps, PFF ranked Cole 18th out of 20.
