Jackson Powers-Johnson: Undervalued Center Contender in NFL Draft

Jackson Powers-Johnson, winner of the prestigious Rimington Trophy for college football’s top center in his only year as a starter at Oregon, could be undervalued by NFL teams due to traditional perception. Center is not typically considered a highly valued position compared to others like tackles or guards. However, Powers-Johnson has impressed scouts with his strength and leadership qualities, finishing second among all players in bench presses (30) at the recent combine. He also boasts an impressive 17 career starts despite being just 21 years old and only three seasons of playing experience at Oregon. His visits to seven NFL teams have generated a lot of interest as he ranks highly amongst top interior linemen, alongside Duke’s Graham Barton and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier. While some draft pundits question his medical history after an unspecified pre-existing injury during the Senior Bowl, Powers-Johnson has denied any major concerns and is confident that teams value centers once they reach their respective squads. The highest-paid center in the NFL currently earns $13.5 million annually with Detroit’s Frank Ragnow, but 23 tackles make more than this figure on current contracts. Nonetheless, Powers-Johnson believes great teams have a strong center and points to Jeff Saturday working alongside Peyton Manning as well Maurkice Pouncey’s pairing up Ben Roethlisberger in the past. As versatility is another strength of his, with previous experience at guard positions during gameplay, he has also discussed possible draft options for teams that already have a center but may need a replacement elsewhere on their lineup.