20: Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Finally, the Steelers pick in the first round comes around. They could go in plenty of directions with this pick. They could go offensive tackle to secure the future on the right side. It would allow Broderick Jones to finally slide over to the left side. Or they could invest in the defensive trenches or add some firepower on offense.
Center remains a need for Pittsburgh. They need a sure-fire bet that could be a long-term answer. Jackson Powers-Johnson becomes their guy. He is the best center in the upcoming draft class, and it is not out of the realm of possibility for him to be picked here. We know the black and gold have been looking at this center class closely.
It seems like they could be open-minded about taking a tackle here too. That could be someone like Amraius Mims, but they decide to stick to center here. They could always try and get either Zach Frazier or Sedrick Van Pran-Granger in later rounds. They know Powers-Johnson is the best player out of the three and refuse to wait.
Powers-Johnson should be able to slide into Arthur Smith's offense with ease. He is a quality moving athlete for his size. He had a tremendous week down at the Senior Bowl, in which the Steelers were well-represented. He is someone who should get more attention from Pittsburgh during the remaining pre-draft process. A plug-and-play center in round one.