A kitchen island with a pot rack does not need to be placed in the middle of the kitchen. It can be placed in any area depending on what it is going to be used for. For example, you can place it in the middle of your kitchen if you want it to be your main food preparation and cooking area.
However, if you want it to be a separate island from your main cooking point, you can place a kitchen island with a pot rack in the corner of your kitchen or in areas that are easily accessible when you need to reach for pots and pans.