The age-old adage warns that failing to delve into the annals of history may result in its repetition, yet for the Pittsburgh Steelers, there exists a palpable desire for a recent historical trend to echo once more. In the most recent NFL mock draft crafted by Luke Easterling from SI.com’s All NFL Draft, a prophecy unfolds wherein the Steelers opt for Oregon’s center, Jackson Powers-Johnson, as the 20th overall pick.
Despite the draft season being in its infancy, Powers-Johnson is already garnering comparisons to the esteemed Maurkice Pouncey, a former Steelers All-Pro center. Easterling, in his analysis, contemplates the possibility of the Steelers adhering to a consecutive year of selecting an offensive tackle in the first round. However, he underscores a pressing need for an upgraded center, especially as the new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, endeavors to instill a renewed emphasis on a physical identity anchored by a formidable ground game—a role Powers-Johnson is envisioned to play in the trenches.
In a parallel narrative, Michael Beck of SB Nation intertwines Powers-Johnson’s potential with that of the illustrious Maurkice Pouncey, a center who adorned the Steelers roster with accolades, achieving first-team All-Pro recognition twice and securing second-team All-Pro honors thrice throughout his 11-year tenure. Beck draws attention to the transformative impact Pouncey had on the Steelers’ offense immediately after his draft selection, and he ardently posits that Powers-Johnson possesses a comparable reservoir of potential that could yield similarly auspicious outcomes for the team. The echoes of Steelers history, as portrayed in this draft scenario, manifest not only as a selection strategy but as a narrative thread linking the promising Powers-Johnson to the illustrious legacy of Maurkice Pouncey.
