The Las Vegas Raiders’ drafted Oregon guard Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round.
We will be getting to know him more very quickly, but here are five aspects of Powers-Johnson the player and person that Raiders fans should know:
Expected first-round pick:
There’s really no doubt that Powers-Johnson is a first-round talent. But, often, interior offensive linemen drop in the draft because other positions are at a premium. That was the case this year, of course, as there was a huge run on offensive skill-position players early and then top defensive players late in the first round. So, Powers-Johnson fell right into the Raiders’ waiting arms at No. 44. There was a lot of talk that the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams were considering him earlier.
Known leader:
Powers-Jackson is not only a tone setter as a player, but as a leader. His Oregon teammates rallied around him and he was tough on is defensive teammates during practice, which earned him roster-wide respect. So, this is the type of player who can be the leader of the Raiders’ offensive line for years to come.
Raiders’ blood:
Powers-Johnson said his first NFL game was a Raiders-49ers at the Oakland Coliseum when he was either four or five years old. His grandparents were from the Bay Area and they were big Raiders’ fans. He remembers the fan experience vividly. His bedspread at his parents home is a Raiders’ logo. He’s embracing the Raider Nation and that’s fun.
Burger man:
Powers-Johnson was a popular player at Oregon and the big fella even got a burger named after him at The Elk Horn Brewery & Cider House in Eugene. Like Powers-Johnson himself — he is 6-3, 320 pounds — the burger is huge. The Big Jax loaded with double beef patties, mac and cheese, pulled pork, double bacon and tater tots. Yeah, wow.
Ascending talent:
This is still a very young talent. He just turned 21 in January, so the Raiders could have him around for a very long time. He played just three years of college football and was a full-time starter for just one season. Yet, Powers-Johnson flourished immediately and won the Rimington Award, which goes to the best center in the country and he was an unanimous All-America. Powers-Johnson, who played some defensive line at Oregon as a freshman, is just scratching the surface of his ability.