Jaguars make massive addition to O-Line in PFF's latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars must make upgrades to the interior offensive line. In particular, the center spot could use a makeover. Incumbent Luke Fortner hasn't shown enough to make the Jags think he's the long-term answer at the position. One name that has consistently been mentioned as a potential replacement for Fortner is Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson. And in Pro Football Focus' latest 2024 NFL Mock draft, they land him at No. 17.

Trevor Sikkema of PFF has the Jags passing on Laiatu Latu and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry in favor of Powers-Johnson. He reasons that his versatility to play center and guard would be of much help on the offensive line.

"Powers-Johnson is coming off a dominant few days of Senior Bowl practices. He’s been the Ducks’ full-time starting center for just one season, but in Mobile, he showed he can be dominant at both center and guard. That flexibility means he’ll be starting somewhere in Jacksonville Week 1 if they draft him."

Center is without a doubt one of the Jaguars' top needs this offseason and Powers-Johnson is the best prospect available at the position. Nobody would bat an eye if he's the pick if he's still on the board at No. 17. He's got a first-round projection but there are other teams besides Jacksonville who may want to take him.

Working in the Jaguars' favor is that not many teams ahead of them in the draft would be potential landing spots for Powers-Johnson. There will be a run for quarterbacks in the top 10, and clubs will also be looking for offensive tackles. This bodes well for Jacksonville, who must prioritize rebuilding the trenches. Last year, they were 28th in pass block win rate and 24th in run block win rate. Fortner was especially underwhelming, ranking 31st among centers in the league.

All things considered, Powers-Johnson would be a huge addition to the Jaguars in 2024. While he needs to work on his stance and hand placement, he's as ready as they come. He could easily be a Day 1 starter and become a fixture of the offensive line for years to come. The fact that he may not have reached his ceiling yet makes him an enticing option in the first round.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can't go wrong with Jackson Powers-Johnson at No. 17

The Jaguars would pass on several worthy prospects if they went with Jackson Powers-Johnson in the first round. Having said that, they could address other other needs in later rounds and free agency. Chop Robinson, Dallas Turner, and Lauatu Latu will be gone by the second round but other pass rushers such as Chris Brasswell and Jonah Ellis should still be available.

Of course, the Jaguars won't have a second-round pick if they choose to re-sign wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The silver lining is that they're projected to have an extra compensatory selection in the third round. That will lessen the impact of not having a second-rounder. Conversely, the top brass could let Ridley walk and add a receiver such as Adonai Mitchell or Brian Thomas Jr. if available with the second-rounder they'll keep.

The point is that there are several paths the Jags can take to restock their roster but they shouldn't pass up the chance to draft Jackson Powers-Johnson. While center isn't a premium position, it's not often that you have the chance to acquire a player of his caliber.

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