While the Dolphins already brought in Aaron Brewer as a potential replacement for Connor Williams, that won’t stop the organization from pursuing additional center depth via the draft. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald passes along, the Dolphins hosted Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson on a top-30 visit this week.
Powers-Johnson didn’t allow any sacks in his 829 snaps at center in 2023, earning him a first-team All-American nod and the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top center. While the lineman has generally competed with the likes of Duke’s Graham Barton and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier in mock drafts, Powers-Johnson is expected to hear his name called at some point during the first two days of the draft…potentially as high as No. 21 to the Dolphins.
While a potential return to Miami remains a possibility for Williams, there’s a good chance the veteran sits out the 2024 campaign while rehabbing his ACL injury. After starting all 34 games for the Titans between 2022 and 2023, Brewer was brought in as a replacement at center. As Jackson notes, both Brewer and Powers-Johnson have experience playing offensive guard, so the team wouldn’t necessarily be setting themselves up for a competition at center.
It sounds like offensive line has been a specific focus for the Dolphins throughout the pre-draft process. Jackson notes that the organization has hosted a number of offensive linemen who are considered late first-round picks, but the organization hasn’t done the same for defensive players in the same tier. While Jackson warns that the front office wouldn’t willingly show their hand, it seems pretty clear that the Dolphins are leaning towards OL depth in the first round.
One position the organization isn’t considering with their first-round pick? A quarterback, as GM Chris Grier told reporters (via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network). Considering both the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa are focused on signing a long-term pact, it’s not a surprise that the Dolphins won’t waste an early-round pick on a developmental backup. However, Grier did note that the Dolphins could consider taking a player at the position later in the draft.