Las Vegas Raiders' hidden gem may have the perfect opportunity to teach everyone his name during the 2025 season

2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson saw time at guard and center last season with starting center Andre James still in the fold. James has departed for Los Angeles, which gives Powers-Johnson a clear path to be the team’s starting center role in 2025 and beyond.

Powers-Johnson played well across 400 snaps at guard during his college career at Oregon, but he won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center in 2023. His 84.5 PFF overall grade led all qualified centers that season, and he allowed just one pressure over the entire campaign. -- PFF

The young center has quickly developed into a potential perennial All-Pro at his position. JPJ quickly garnered the starting center job last season and did not look back. I discussed his progression and impact on the Raiders offense with Justin Churchill this week. 

Jackson Powers-Johnson started his rookie year at the guard position, but the Raiders quickly figured out their best OL combination would be with him at the center position. He took over when Andre James was injured, and played so well, and so much better than James, that James never even got his spot back. In fact, the Raiders ended up cutting James, saving only around $1 million, which even more proves that they were confident in JPJ.

 

-- Justin Churchill

Moving on from James was no small decision. The veteran center had provided consistency when healthy, but Vegas quickly realized what they had in Powers-Johnson. That was a risk, but it feels like it will pay off. 

Now, with a new staff in the building, he may be able to flourish even more for the Raiders. 

Powers-Johnson has opportunity to be special

The stats back up PFF's notion. JPJ was rock solid after his position swap, and there is little reason to doubt him after another offseason for development and improvement. 

The standout interior offensive lineman played the third-most blocking snaps on the Raiders last year, and somehow only walked away with 21 total blown blocks, per Sports Info Solutions, despite teammates Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze finishing with 40 on just a few more snaps. The Raiders think that JPJ can become one of the best interior offensive linemen in the league in a few years, and I'm not far behind them.

-- Justin Churchill