Taking a closer look at the consensus best player at the position that is their most glaring need, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday hosted Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson for an official pre-draft visit.
The 6-foot-3, 328-pound Powers-Johnson last season won the Rimington Trophy recognizing the top center in college football, and most draft outlets project Powers-Johnson to be taken in the bottom half of the first round. The Steelers chose 20th overall, and they have no experienced true center on their roster following the release of former starter Mason Cole.
Powers-Johnson did not become a fulltime starter until 2023, but he quickly established himself with an aggressive on-field demeanor and a powerful, broad upper body. He is the only center that most draft outlets project could be taken in the first round.
Jackson Powers-Johnson just casually tossing around a nose tackle and a blitzing linebacker like they weigh 50 pounds a piece. pic.twitter.com/o4SLq9NkJj
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) April 2, 2024
Notre Dame tackle Blake Fisher joined Powers-Johnson as guests of the Steelers. Teams are allotted 30 pre-draft visits to their headquarters, not counting those deemed “local” prospects.
Fisher (6-6, 310) is the lower-profile of the Notre Dame tackles available in the draft. Joe Alt is expected to be taken among the top 5-10 picks, but Fisher was a higher-rated recruit coming out of high school and was the starter at left tackle — ahead of Alt — for the opener of his freshman season.
The first freshman to start the season opener at left tackle in program history, Fisher suffered a knee injury and missed the next 11 games before returning for the 2021 season Fiesta Bowl. By then, Alt had taken over at left tackle, so Fisher moved to the right side.
A lot to love and a lot to criticize with Blake Fisher's game. This was nearly textbook vs a very competent and athletic edge rusher pic.twitter.com/3sm6E8U6hX
— Hail Mary Sports (@hailmarysportss) April 7, 2024
Fisher was the starter there for the final two seasons of his college career. The Steelers took Broderick Jones in the first round last season, and Jones is considered best suited at left tackle.
The mock-draft compilation site nflmockdraftdatabase.com reports Fisher being taken anywhere from the late first round to the fourth, with a consensus being Round 3. As things stand now, the Steelers have two third-round selections in the April 25-27 draft.
