A good center is an integral part of an NFL offense. A great center can completely change the way your offensive line plays football altogether. Case in point, former Eagles’ Center Jason Kelce. There’s a reason fans in Philadelphia (and players for that matter) are beside themselves with the news of their All-Pro Center retiring. If you don’t have a good center, the entire structure of the O-line is in potential danger which therefore endangers your Quarterback.
The Bucs just paid their now franchise QB Baker Mayfield a hefty new contract, so his health and performance is of utmost importance. While Buccaneers’ current Center Robert Hainsey has played admirably, he was perceived as a source of weakness in 2023 for lack of a better word, making the Center spot a key draft need. This year is one of the deepest drafts of linemen in decades, so today we’ll spotlight a couple standout prospects that could be plug and play Centers for Tampa in 2024.
96 seconds of Oregon IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson putting defenders on (or under, in some cases) the ground. The last one is particularly savage 😂 pic.twitter.com/5pIiukcRPX
— Steely Cam (@CamBlurn) April 1, 2024
The first name is obvious. Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, for my money, is the most pro-ready Center we’ve seen in years. At 6’3″, 328 pounds, Powers-Johnson is one of those players that thoroughly dominates his opponents. He plays with controlled anger and is able to play every O-line position at a high level. He was a National Top 5 prospect in high school and continued his elite level of play for three years in college. Viewed as a Swiss Army Knife player, JPJ can play every position on the offensive line, and even played Defensive Tackle in the Alamo Bowl his freshman year. His true calling is Center, though, a position he gained First Team All Pac-12 and First Team All-American honors at in 2023. He blew scouts away at the Senior Bowl, so he is on alot of Draft Boards, but if he’s available at #26, expect the Bucs to take a long, hard look.
Next up is Zach Frazier. West Virginia will be sorry to see this kid leave. He is 6 foot 3 inches and 313 lbs of pure athleticism. Though Powers-Johnson graded higher on most scouting reports, Frazier is widely considered the more technical player. Already a master at helping his quarterback diagnose and set protections, Frazier will be a welcome addition to any of the franchises seeking their new center. Though a Third Team All-American and First Team All Big-12, his short arms are one of the more evident reasons he will fall on some boards. With some coaching and game gained discipline, Frazier could be a name NFL fans hear for awhile.
Zach Frazier continues to impress, this time at Big 12 Pro Dayhttps://t.co/sIVklvDGPP pic.twitter.com/sXKyiG2bYj
— Blue Gold Sports (@Blue_GoldSports) March 31, 2024
Last, but certainly not least, is Graham Barton out of Duke. Barton can also play all five positions on the offensive line. It’s one thing to be able to play different positions on the line, but quite another to do it on the right OR the left. Probably the most savvy player on the list, Barton could just as well be drafted to play Left Guard as Center. That said, he started his collegiate career at Center, but has played Left Tackle his last three seasons. Barton playing at LT (the most important spot on any O-line) was more a product of need than suitability. He’s been First Team All-ACC back to back years so his NFL readiness is ideal.
That’s just a few of the young men we could see at Center next year in Tampa Bay. What do you think of these or any other prospects for the 2024 Draft class? Sound off in the comments! Thanks for reading and make sure to check out all our other great coverage on your favorite Florida sports teams.
THE CONVERSATION.