Sport
Is Jackson Powers-Johnson’s dream of playing for the Dolphins farfetched?
At the NFL Combine, Jackson Powers-Johnson wasn’t shy about his thoughts on playing for the Miami Dolphins. Despite growing up in Utah, the center took after his dad and became a Dolphins fan at a young age. After an impressive collegiate career at the University of Oregon, his dream of playing for Miami could turn into a reality.
Powers-Johnson revealed that he had met formally with the Dolphins at the Combine with a smile on his face. The prospect of playing for Mike McDaniel was exciting, as the Oregon standout explained that he’d be honored to play for the young head coach.
Months later, with the first wave of free agency underway, some experts still expect the Dolphins to utilize pick No. 21 of the 2024 NFL Draft on the center. For the most part, however, speculation about Powers-Johnson joining the South Florida franchise has fizzled out. In free agency, the Dolphins picked up one of the top available centers, Aaron Brewer. The Dolphins’ 2023 starting center, Connor Williams, remains a free agent.
Brewer comes off a four-year stint with the Tennessee Titans, where he played multiple positions on the offensive line and was tasked with switching from guard to center in 2023. Brewer was responsible for protecting rookie quarterback Will Levis for the bulk of the season.
The acquisition of Brewer doesn’t necessarily mean that drafting Powers-Johnson is out of the question. Both players have experience playing on the interior offensive line, and the Dolphins need help. NFL analyst Bucky Brooks has McDaniel and Co. utilizing their first-rounder on Powers-Johnson in his latest mock draft.
“When you think about having a smaller quarterback, you gotta make sure that the middle is really stout and steady. JPJ is a guy that gets it done. He stonewalls guys at the point of attack, which is why I like the fit for him down in Miami,” Brooks explained.
