The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly targeting a center early in the draft, most likely using the No. 20 overall choice to address a position of need. This is possibly the worst-kept secret in the NFL.
Naturally, since Mason Cole was cut by the Steelers in February, center is the only position on the team without a clear starter.
The only option left on the offseason schedule is the draft because the Steelers were unable to fill the position through trade or free agency.
Furthermore, the Steelers haven’t exactly been quiet about their goals. The Pittsburgh Steelers invited their top three centers to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the last week that clubs could visit prospects ranked in the top thirty.
It’s just a matter of whether Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier or Duke’s Graham Barton will be wearing the black and gold next season.
To NFL analysts, the Steelers can’t go wrong with any of their choices.
“I believe all three of those guys could just plug and play,” stated Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network. “Those guys are all athletic, over 310 pounds, and they can move you at the point of attack.”
Ever since Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement following the 2020 season, the Steelers have been looking for a long-term pivotal player. In the 2021 NBA Draft, they selected Kendrick Green with a third-round choice; however, because he had spent the majority of his collegiate career playing guard, he was essentially a square peg in a round hole.
Over the previous two seasons, Cole made 34 consecutive starts before signing a free agent contract the following year. However, Cole’s inconsistent snapping caused the Steelers to dismiss him with one year left on his
contract.
And so, the Steelers are tasked with finding a center to follow in the footsteps of Pouncey, Pro Football Hall of Famers Dermontti Dawson and Mike Webster.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN remarked, “Centers and head coaches are like gold. They stay with the Steelers forever.” “Centers have always served as the foundation of their lines. They must apprehend the man.
The 6-foot-3, 328-pound junior center, Powers-Johnson, was named the nation’s best center in 2023 and received the Rimington Award. However, that was the only year he started at Oregon. His prior four starts were at left guard, defensive tackle, and right guard (two each).
On the boards of the majority of draft experts, Powers-Johnson has the highest rating.
“You are unable to overcome him,” Jeremiah remarked. He simply absorbs and kind of catches guys. He gets to the second level of Pass Pro quickly and does well on combination blocks. He’s got a bad attitude. He is a canine.
Frazier, who measured 6-3, 313 at the NFL Combine, has the most experience of the trio. He started four seasons at West Virginia, the final three at center and was a first-team all-conference pick the past two season.
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