After an impressive rookie campaign that saw him split time between guard and center, Jackson Powers-Johnson appears firmly entrenched as the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting center heading into the 2025 season. The 2023 Rimington Trophy winner, awarded to college football’s top center, is finally getting the chance to focus solely on the position that made him a standout at Oregon—and the early signs are promising.
Despite being drafted in the second round in 2024, Powers-Johnson was used as a versatile interior lineman last season. With veteran Andre James occupying the starting center role, the Raiders’ previous regime rotated JPJ across the offensive line. He started five games at left guard before shifting to center for six games during James’ midseason injury absence, then returned to guard for the final stretch.
Jackson Powers-Johnson Moves To Center For The Las Vegas Raiders — Permanently
Now, with James released in March and a new coaching staff in place, the path is clear. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Vincent Bonsignore, Powers-Johnson is taking all his reps at center this offseason. And with improved health—he missed most of last year’s training camp and the first two games due to injury—there’s optimism he can help anchor a retooled line and lift the league’s worst rushing attack (3.6 yards per carry and just 79.8 yards per game in 2024).
“Getting a real offseason at center is huge,” Powers-Johnson said at OTAs. “In college, I was always playing five or six positions. Being able to really hone in on one has been awesome.”
The 6-foot-3 lineman is also physically retooling. After playing his rookie season at around 328 pounds, Powers-Johnson said he’s dropped 10 to 15 pounds to better fit new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s more agile blocking scheme.
“I’ve hammered down a routine. I’m faster, stronger, better with my technique,” he added. “The coaches have been amazing. I think I’m going to make a great jump, give it the best I’ve got, and have some fun with it.”
While his rookie season was not without growing pains—Pro Football Focus flagged him for 14 penalties in 14 starts—he graded well overall, earning a 68.3 in pass protection and a 70.4 in run blocking. Those numbers support the expectation that with more consistency and a defined role, Powers-Johnson is poised for a second-year breakout.
New general manager John Spytek noted earlier in the offseason that Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, and Jordan Meredith would compete for interior line spots, while free agent Alex Cappa would contend for a guard role. However, with JPJ’s narrowed focus and improved fitness, it looks increasingly likely that the starting five will be Kolton Miller, Parham, Powers-Johnson, Cappa, and rookie Delmar Glaze from left to right.
That group will be charged with paving the way for Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders’ No. 6 overall pick and the presumed centerpiece of the revamped run game.
As for cheat meals? Even with a leaner frame, Powers-Johnson’s roots in Las Vegas remain strong—he has a signature item at Bar Code Burgers: the Big Jax Burger, a towering creation featuring a six-ounce patty, Gouda mac and cheese bites, bacon, and an onion ring. It may not be on his training table, but it’s proof that the city has already embraced its new center of gravity—both on and off the field.