Raiders Sign Second-Round Draft Pick OG Jackson Powers-Johnson

The Las Vegas Raiders announced that they have signed second-round pick offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson out of the University of Oregon.

The Raiders selected Johnson with the 44th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and they could immediately be plugged into a starting spot on the offensive line, likely at guard. That should come as no surprise as Johnson was one of, if not the best, interior offensive linemen in all of college football last year.

Last season, Johnson was a unanimous First-Team All-American. Not only did he allow no sacks in 2023, but he didn’t allow a single sack throughout his three seasons at Oregon. The Ducks’ offensive line allowed just five sacks in the entire 2023 season, the fewest in FBS.

At Oregon Johnson started at center and became the first Pac-12 player to ever win the Rimington Award, given out to the best center in college football. His pass-blocking grade of 90.6 from Pro Football Focus was the highest of any center in the nation in 2023.

Fortifying the offensive line was clearly a point of emphasis for the Raiders this offseason as the team made multiple moves to ensure they were dominating in the trenches. The franchise also used a third-round selection on tackle DJ Glaze out of Maryland while adding veteran tackle Andrus Peat and guard Cody Whitehair in free agency.

Under head coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders want to be a physical team, and that can’t happen without being strong in the trenches. Jackson Powers-Johnson will certainly help in that regard and should be able to step in and make an impact immediately.

With Andre James recently signing an extension, he is locked into the center position. Johnson likely slides in at right guard between him and tackle Thayer Munford Jr., who held down that position last year. With Kolton Miller entrenched at left tackle and Dylan Parham returning at left guard, the Raiders are in position to be very strong up front.

Jackson Powers-Johnson believes his style is a perfect match for Raiders

Not only does Johnson fill a need for the Raiders, but he is also living out a dream in donning the silver and black. The Raiders’ rookie lineman noted that the first NFL game he attended was a Raiders game and he feels his playing style is a perfect match with the franchise.

“The first NFL game I attended was a Raiders game, and the overwhelming sense of history and the intense passion of the fans resonated with me deeply,” he recounted. “Their energy and unabashed enthusiasm mirror my playing style, making this a perfect match. Donning the Raiders’ colors and helmet isn’t just about representing a team; it’s about embodying a dream I’ve had since childhood.”