As Ryan Poles continues to build the roster, one position in dire need of an upgrade is the middle of the offensive line. Last season, no fewer than four players took a shot. None were successful. Cody Whitehair was so bad early in the year he stayed on the sideline when Lucas Patrick was injured.
Fans were disappointed when Ryan Poles did not address the center position in last year's draft. He chose a better option when he drafted Darnell Wright. Wright stepped in and had an excellent season. Yes, he made some rookie mistakes but held his own all season.
This year it is imperative the center position needs to be a focus.
One center that has drawn a lot of attention is Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon. JPJ declared for the draft after his Junior season. As a sophomore, he played mainly at guard. He moved to center for the 2023 season and won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center.
Powers-Johnson only allowed one pressure in over 470 pass attempts. His pass-blocking grade (91.3), run-blocking grade (85.3), and overall rating of 84.6 were the best marks by a center per Pro Football Focus. He was a first-team AP All-American.
Other centers available in the 2024 draft are:
Zach Frazier, Sedric Van Pran, Matthew Lee, and Graham Barton.
Don't be surprised to hear one of those names called during the draft. Ryan Poles has been very targeted in his roster-building. The center position must be addressed this off-season.
