For draft junkies like me, a great battle raged on this past cycle.
Graham Barton or Jackson-Powers Johnson?
Which likely center prospect would be selected first in the draft? For Bucs fans, the question was more nuanced. Which would be available when Tampa Bay selected 26th overall? Would either player still be on the board? I personally had both players graded very highly, with JPJ eighth overall on my big board and Barton 11th overall. You can read specific evals I did for Barton here and Powers-Johnson here.
Bucs C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
As it turns out, both players were available when the Bucs were on the clock in the 2024 NFL Draft. And as we all know now, Barton was the pick.
In some ways, it was not surprising that both Barton and Powers-Johnson were available. Interior offensive linemen are not coveted by NFL teams like other positions. Especially center prospects. Over the previous five drafts, only eight interior offensive linemen had been taken in the first round. On the other hand, Barton and Powers-Johnson were the consensus two best interior lineman prospects in the draft.
According to Arif Hasan’s consensus big board, Barton was the #1 IOL prospect, ranked 26th overall. Powers-Johnson was just behind him at 28th overall. It should be noted that Troy Fautanu was technically ranked higher than both players at 17th overall, but that was in part because many evaluators saw him as a tackle, while others thought he would have to kick inside.
In a bit of a surprise, one pick prior to the Bucs taking Barton, the Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Morgan out of Arizona. Morgan played tackle in college, and like Fautanu, was seen as a possible guard convert. Green Bay has played him inside thus far this season. But at the time of the selection, he wasn’t seen as a definite convert like Barton was. The next closest true inside lineman was West Virginia’s Zach Frazier who was ranked 41st overall.
Following the consensus board, Powers-Johnson was the next interior lineman selected when Las Vegas chose him 44th overall.
Two Highly Touted Draft Prospects Meet
Bucs C Graham Barton and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Now the two will face off against each other in a manner of speaking. Barton has been starting all season at center for the Bucs. Powers-Johnson got his first action in week three at guard. Moved into the starting lineup in week four and transitioned over to the pivot in week nine. Both players have given their fanbases plenty to be excited about.
While Barton’s 55.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus isn’t very sexy and ranks just 25th out of 29 qualifying centers this season you don’t hear anyone really complaining about his play this year. In fact, it is quite the opposite. He is brand new to the position. And with that comes a learning curve and growing pains. Most of that for Barton centers around smoothing out his snap-to-movement transition and picking up games that defenses are running. And both of those things are headed in the right direction.
One of Graham Barton’s (#62) biggest areas of opportunities through the first three weeks of the season was understanding when to look for and finding stunts/twists. Can’t do it much better than this. pic.twitter.com/Cx0XvwqqM5
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 30, 2024
Barton’s 63.4 pass block grade from PFF is also much better than his overall grade and ranks 14th overall among that same list of players. His pass block efficiency mark of 97.8 is tied for 17th overall and his pressure rate allowed of 4.03% is ranked 21st. Barton has established himself as a solid starting center in year one while transitioning to a new position. He’s doing all of that as a pass protector while manning the center of a run game that is now ranked 4th in rushing yards per play and 9th in EPA/rush. That’s a pretty amazing debut.
Analysts agree this is just the beginning for the athletically gifted former Duke Blue Devil.
Graham Barton has largely been awesome since stepping onto the field in the preseason and was absolutely outstanding against the Ravens. From pancaking T. Jones multiple times to locking up Roquan at the second level several times to properly handling games. Stud rookie center pic.twitter.com/UsYQx7iKvr
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 23, 2024
Raiders C Jackson Powers-Johnson and TE Brock Bowers – Photo by: USA Today
As for Powers-Johnson, he had some bumps initially playing left guard. But since moving to his natural position of center there have been plenty of positives. It started with his first start there against the Bengals in Week 9 when he recorded a 90.6 overall grade from PFF while giving up zero pressures across 41 pass block snaps. Since then, JPJ has given up pressure on just 2% of his pass block snaps and has surrendered just a single sack in four games.
And with Powers-Johnson, like Barton, the physical gifts are real as well.
JPJ hip-tossing the rusher after the ball is out #passproisntpassive pic.twitter.com/Hb3oi8e80S
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 28, 2024
Sunday’s Game Marks A Glimpse Into The Future For Two Marauding Fanbases
While the two centers won’t actually “face off” (shout out John Travolta and Nicholas Cage) against each other as they both play offense. They will give a glimpse into the future of center play in the NFL. They, along with Frazier in Pittsburgh mark three of the more promising rookies in the game this year. All three playing the same position bodes well for the long-term outlook of the pivot. Expect both to garner special focus during the game as promising signs of the future for their respective teams as well as the league as a whole.
