The Las Vegas Raiders are a young team that’s going to rely on a lot of young talent to take the next step in 2025. That’s a recipe that has proven successful for head coach Pete Carroll in the past.
It might be too much to expect big years from the rookie class, but the Raiders will be hoping to see some leaps from second-year players. First-round pick Brock Bowers was arguably the best tight end in the NFL last season, so even if he has the same numbers in 2025, it’ll be a success for him.
One player to watch is 2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson. He was banged up for much of training camp, but was able to get on the field for the majority of games last season.
He showed some flashes of the elite physicality that made him a second-round pick. The Raiders appear to have him set at center instead of guard, which is his more natural position. Now that he’s healthy and in his favored position, he could be in for a big year.
The Athletic went through and pinpointed a breakout player for every NFL team this season. They landed on Powers-Johnson for the Raiders.
“Powers-Johnson started 14 games as a rookie and lined up at three positions, left guard, center and right guard,” Tashan Reed wrote. “While his level of play was solid, that constant movement made it difficult for him to be comfortable. Additionally, he came into the season too heavy and his technique was sloppy. He’s been able to focus solely on center this offseason, lost 10-15 pounds and has sharpened his fundamentals. He should be a plus-level player for the Raiders in 2025.”
Maxx Crosby Is High on Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson can sometimes let his aggressive nature get the best of him, but it’s easier to teach technique than it is to teach a player to have that killer instinct. If he can stay healthy, there’s a good chance he’ll be a productive NFL player.
In fact, star defensive end Maxx Crosby believes that he’s already a top center in the NFL.
“One of the best centers in the National Football League,” Crosby said on “The Rush.” “A future All-Pro, Pro Bowler, man is an absolute savage on the field. I call him baby Richie (Incognito). Our boy, Jackson Powers-Johnson.”
Powers-Johnson Is Focused on Center
Despite winning the Rimington Trophy in 2023 for the nation’s best center, Powers-Johnson didn’t always play center in college. He had to play all over the offensive line through much of his college career.
That continued in the NFL, as the Raiders originally had him playing guard. Starting center Andre James got hurt, and Powers-Johnson fought to replace him. The Raiders let him, and he fended off James even when he was healthy.
This offseason, Las Vegas is allowing him to focus on center, and that’s something he’s really excited about.
“I never really had a real offseason at center. I was always playing five or six different positions,” Powers-Johnson told reporters recently. “So being able to really hone in on one has been awesome.”
