Jackson Powers-Johnson has gained widespread admiration among Las Vegas Raiders fans for his performance on the offensive line, but the debate about his role continues to focus on whether he should play guard or center. Since being drafted in the second round after winning the Rimington Trophy at Oregon—a prize awarded annually to college football’s best center—many anticipated he would immediately become the Raiders’ starting center. However, Powers-Johnson began his rookie season as a guard until injury circumstances moved him to his college position.
Despite his talent, Powers-Johnson faced a difficult offseason last year with a coaching staff that seemed not to prioritize his development. Now, with new coaches coming in, there is renewed hope among fans that he will return to the center spot. Yet, Ted Nguyen of The Athletic offers a perspective challenging that expectation.
Ted Nguyen’s Perspective on Powers-Johnson’s Offensive Line Role
In a detailed analysis of the Raiders’ offensive future under head coach Klint Kubiak, Ted Nguyen addressed various key topics, including why Powers-Johnson has mostly played guard during his early career. According to a team source shared by Nguyen, the main issue lies in Powers-Johnson’s struggles to perform the necessary line-of-scrimmage checks and adjustments required from an NFL center.
Jackson Powers-Johnson has the talent to be the Raiders’ second-best offensive lineman. He wants to play center, but according to a team source, he struggled to make the checks and adjustments at the line of scrimmage required of a center, which is why the Raiders’ two previous staffs didn’t want to play him at center.
— Ted Nguyen, Writer at The Athletic
This assessment highlights a difference between Powers-Johnson’s desire to play center and the practical demands of that role in the NFL. Given the Raiders’ recent challenging seasons, fans may question the accuracy of the team’s talent evaluations; however, Nguyen provides a logical explanation related to the team’s system and the specific skill set needed for its center position.
Kubiak’s System and the Demands on the Center Position
Nguyen explains that under Klint Kubiak’s system, the center holds crucial responsibilities, such as setting the protection scheme, identifying the “Mike” linebacker, and managing line adjustments. Although the quarterback retains authority to change calls, the center must ultimately make most decisions on the line. Nguyen suggests that Powers-Johnson’s skills may be better suited to the guard position, where he can focus on blocking without the added mental load of these tasks.
In Kubiak’s system, the center is in charge of setting the protection, pointing to the “Mike” linebacker, and making adjustments at the line. The quarterback has authority to change it, but the center is going to make the final call a vast majority of the time. Powers-Johnson’s best fit may be at guard, where he can play freely without the burden of all this responsibility. That makes finding a veteran center a huge priority for the Raiders, especially with the possibility of starting a rookie quarterback.
— Ted Nguyen, Writer at The Athletic
This focus on the center role’s complexity helps explain why Raiders leadership across two coaching staffs has preferred Powers-Johnson at guard, despite his success playing center in college and briefly during his rookie year.
Fan Perspectives and the Team’s Offseason Decisions
Raiders fans have expressed a desire to see Powers-Johnson prove himself at center once more, noting that struggles cited by coaches like Brennan Carroll weren’t clearly visible when he played the position. Still, two different coaching groups have maintained that guard is a better fit for him. The team’s offseason signings and draft picks will likely reveal their true intentions for Powers-Johnson’s role.
If the Raiders invest heavily in acquiring a veteran center such as Tyler Linderbaum, it would indicate that Powers-Johnson is expected to remain at guard. Conversely, if the center position is left largely unaddressed, it might suggest the team is willing to give Powers-Johnson another opportunity at center, where he excelled during his time at the University of Oregon.
Powers-Johnson’s Attitude and Potential Impact
Although Powers-Johnson has publicly expressed his preference for playing center, including statements made on The Rush With Maxx Crosby, he appears to prioritize team success over personal position preference. His flexibility to embrace different roles reflects a commitment to winning, regardless of where the coaching staff places him.
Recognized as the Raiders’ second-most talented offensive lineman after Kolton Miller, Powers-Johnson is expected to contribute effectively on the line, whether at guard or center. While Nguyen predicts he will continue as a guard, many fans are eager to see if Kubiak might choose otherwise.
Ultimately, the decisions made during the offseason and the strategies implemented by Klint Kubiak will determine how Jackson Powers-Johnson’s role evolves, but his skill and adaptability position him as a valuable asset for the Raiders moving forward.
