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Buccaneers Host Top Center Prospect From Oregon On Top 30 Visit
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have needs on the interior offensive line, and Jackson Powers-Johnson could be the man.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a quite a few needs to address in the 2024 NFL Draft, and they could be looking to fill one of their top ones if a new Top 30 visit is any indication.
BleacherReport's Ryan Fowler reported on Friday that the Buccaneers hosted Oregon center Jackson Powers Johnson on a Top 30 visit. Johnson played center for the Oregon Ducks, but he also played a little bit of guard when he attended the Senior Bowl in 2023.
The Bucs are certainly looking for both a center and a guard to pair alongside Cody Mauch, whom the team drafted in 2023. Powers-Johnson is an impressive candidate, and he's projected to be a first-round pick after his work with the Ducks. He won the Rimington Trophy in 2023, an award given to the best center in college football.
Powers-Johnson would likely replace Robert Hainsey at center, though there is a possibility he could be moved to guard. The team drafted Mauch in 2023 with the possibility that center Ryan Jensen could return from injury, but he was unable to do so and retired instead. As a result, Hainsey took over at center and free agent Matt Feiler came in at guard — both Feiler and Hainsey didn't play well, so there's a need for both center and guard in Tampa Bay.
Jackson Powers-Johnson could certainly fill that role, but we won't know for sure if that is Tampa Bay's plan until they make their pick (or trade down) on April 25 on the first day of the NFL Draft.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.
