Giants Coach ‘Spotted Talking to’ Senior Bowl Standout on OL: Report
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At the 2024 Senior Bowl, Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon was seen conversing with the New York Giants.
The New York Giants executive office and coaching staff were keenly observing the 2024 Senior Bowl last week, which came to an end on February 3.
According to Chris Pflum of SB Nation’s Big Blue View, new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo seems to be interested in one man on the offensive line. After praising the interior OL prospect out of Oregon, Pflum wrote, “It’s also notable that new Giants’ offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo was spotted talking to [Jackson] Powers-Johnson.”
The member of the media continued, “Scouts and coaches will talk to everyone, but it’s still worth taking note of.”
Throughout preparations, Powers-Johnson was a well-liked Senior Bowl star on social media. Draft scout Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus expressed that he “cannot say enough” how good the Oregon product appeared.
Sikkema observed, “dominating at center and guard.” “Wins with power every time, but he also demonstrates patience and quickness here.”
Giants may choose to trade up for Jackson Powers-Johnson or target him in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Where Powers-Johnson will be chosen in April is yet unknown. The blocker “entered the week as one of the top two or three centers in the draft, and will leave with that status intact,” according to Pflum.
That being said, depending on the season, elite centers and guards might fall to round two.
On January 30, NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah released his first top-50 prospect list of the offseason, putting Powers-Johnson 35th.
Jeremiah scouted: “Powers-Johnson has experience at all three interior offensive line spots and has also played defensive tackle.” “I anticipate that he will play at the next level at center, where he was excellent in 2023.”
John Michael Schmitz, a 2023 draft pick, might go from guard to center for the Giants if Powers-Johnson is selected, or vice versa.
Jeremiah continued, “He has good size, exceptional quickness, and steady balance.” He sets up vertically in pass pro and can catch and absorb against power rushers. He is a cunning assistant when discovered and performs a great job of repositioning his hands to keep his position.
Continuing, “He generates a lot of movement at the point of attack by using his upper-body power to torque and turn defenders during the run game.” He takes terrific angles and moves quickly up to the second level. He doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game overall. I adore the way he plays bulldog.
Joe Schoen, the general manager, might use the first of his two second-round picks to target Powers-Johnson. In an attempt to obtain the best IOL, he might perhaps trade back up into round one.
Giants Will Require Two to Four Offensive Linemen by 2024
It’s time for the Giants to take this problem seriously and give acquiring more starting-caliber blockers top priority, especially after the 2023 campaign was lost mostly as a result of injuries and offensive line difficulties.
The only two players on this team who ought to be set in stone are Andrew Thomas and Schmitz. Beyond that, if they advance to training camp, veteran center Jimmy Morrissey and experienced offensive tackles Joshua Miles and Yodny Cajuste, as well as younger prospects like Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan, and Jalen Mayfield, will compete.
Unrestricted free agents like Tyre Phillips, Matt Peart, Shane Lemieux, Wyatt Davis, and J.C. Hassenauer are not included in that. Mark Glowinski, another possible cap casualty, is not included either.
Considering how dependable this current bunch is, Big Blue ought to try to add two or four more offensive lineman through the draft and free agency. With any luck, that would leave them with a strong starting five and adequate depth to cover for injuries.
Going into March and April, Schoen’s first worry should be the O-line.
