Scouting Profile: Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
In a Draft class absolutely loaded with premier offensive line talent, he might (not so) secretly be the best one among them.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 320lbs
Class: Junior
NFL Comparison: If King Kong Bundy played Center
I can’t decide which one is a better way to describe how Jackson Powers-Johnson plays football:
Like members of the opposing defense owe him money and they’re several days overdue in paying him back; or
Like members of the opposing defense forced his stepbrother into eating cat poop and now he’s back for revenge.
Either way, it is an absolute delight watching ‘JPJ’ shove, toss, and decleat defensive linemen in his vicinity like a man among boys—and clearly enjoy doing so.
A beast of an interior offensive lineman, combining textbook measurables (6'3" and 320lbs), superior athleticism, and overall blocking technique with a tantalizing level of physicality, aggression, and nastiness, Powers-Johnson is a scheme agnostic center (or guard) who’ll excel in whatever capacity you ask him to play. He maintains a solid base in pass pro and understands when to attack and when to stay patient, preventing defenders from exploiting gaps or finding leverage. He effectively utilizes his hands to control defenders, keeping them at bay and dictating the flow of the play. He also has exceptional lower body strength, allowing him to maintain a solid anchor against powerful defensive linemen, effectively neutralizing their bull rushes.
Even when Powers-Johnson is initially beaten, he possesses exceptional recovery skills, allowing him to quickly regain leverage and reset against pass rushers. And once the rusher is neutralized, he racks up pancakes like a line cook at an IHOP on a busy Sunday morning. As a run blocker, he’s nothing short of a bulldozer, clearing running lanes at the point of attack and then racing downfield to blow up hapless members of the opposing defense; men of his size have absolutely no business moving as fast and controlled as he does in the open field.
The only immediate area of improvement is that he sometimes gets away from his hip bend and plays a bit too upright, leaving his chest potentially exposed to rushers. He’s also still learning the finer nuances of playing center, as he only started 13 total games at the position.
With NFL coaching applied to his dominating mindset in both run blocking and pass protection, he will be an invaluable asset for any team looking for a “set it and forget it” player along their offensive lineman. He has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowl player, if not an All-Pro, for the next decade — and he could reach those heights rather early on in his career. ■