The Las Vegas Raiders selected Oregon interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson with the 44th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Powers-Johnson is widely regarded as the best center in this draft, but his responsibilities with the Raiders will be elsewhere on the offensive line, at least in year one.
Powers-Johnson is a versatile freak on the interior of the offensive line. The 21-year-old started at center for the Ducks in 2023 but also started at right guard in 2022. Powers-Johnson posted an elite 90.6 pass-blocking grade last season and hasn't allowed a single sack in the past two seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound interior offensive lineman is a mauler in the run game who excels at displacing defenders, and he's a sneaky athlete.
RD 2 | PK 44 - Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL, Oregon
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024
With the 44th pick, the @Raiders select the 2nd-highest IOL by the NGS overall score (85). JPJ was the best available player by the model and was featured as a Day 2 standout by the NGS team.#NFLDraft | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/MZc8LOvgEi
Though Powers-Johnson's best collegiate season was at the center, Las Vegas will task the rookie to play guard, as evidenced by their announcing him as one when they made the pick official. Las Vegas also made sure to notify center Andre James that he is indeed their guy at the position.
While at right guard during the 2022 season, the new Raider allowed just two quarterback pressures and scored an 84.1 pass-blocking grade, along with an 84.7 run-blocking grade.
To summarize, Powers-Johnson's versatility, excellence in pass protection and mauler mentality in the run game will be a major plus for the Raiders' offensive line coached by James Cregg. The unanimous All-American will start at guard, but his ability to move inside and play center if need be will make him a prominent asset for the Silver and Black.
GRADE: A