Raiders opt for offensive line help with Round 2 draft pick

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Friday, April 26, 2024 | 7:35 p.m.

Updated Friday, April 26, 2024 | 8:51 p.m.

The Raiders made a practical selection with their second-round pick in Friday’s NFL Draft, choosing Oregon offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson at No. 44 overall.

Las Vegas entered the draft with needs along the offensive line, especially on the right side, and Powers-Johnson has the versatility to be a potential solution at a couple positions.

Powers-Johnson played center at Oregon, but measured at 6-foot-3, 328 pounds at the NFL combine, giving him the kind of size to slide out and man the guard position at the pro level.

Raiders general manager Tom Telesco said that will be the plan heading into rookie minicamp.

“We see him fitting in at guard,” Telesco said. “He’s played guard, he’s played center, but we see him as a guard for us. Another young kid, 21 years old, so still a lot of growth in his game. He’s big, he’s tough, he plays a Raiders style of football, but he’s also a pretty good athlete to go along with that. Love his versatility, love his energy and enthusiasm as a player.”

A move to guard would suit Powers-Johnson just fine.

“I’m just excited,” Powers-Johnson said. “Anywhere the Raiders want me to play, I’m going to play. If they want me to throw the ball, I’m going to throw the ball.”

Powers-Johnson was noted for his stalwart pass blocking at Oregon, as he allowed just one pressure during the 2023 season. He also showed an impressive ability to get out ahead of running plays and throw devastating blocks at the second level.

A Utah native, Powers-Johnson was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school in the Class of 2021. He split time between the offensive line and defensive line as a freshman before settling in as a blocker as a sophomore. In 2022, he played 87.5% of his snaps at right guard before the team moved him to center in 2023.

As a junior, Powers-Johnson was an All-America first team selection and won the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best center. Some draft prognosticators had him rated as a first-round talent, but an injury history that included multiple concussions may have pushed him into the second round.

Talking to the media via Zoom after being drafted, Powers-Johnson disputed that he is suffering any lingering effects.

“I think it’s funny, because I have no health issues,” Powers-Johnson said. “It’s not true. I’m 100% healthy, I’m ready to go and I’m feeling great.”

Las Vegas has focused on the offensive trenches with its first three picks. The Raiders used their first-round pick, the No. 13 overall selection, on Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. In three years with the Bulldogs, Bowers caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns while helping the program win consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022.

The team went into Friday with roster holes at cornerback and offensive line, as well as a long-term need for a franchise quarterback. Powers-Johnson qualifies as blue-chip help on the line, and the Raiders double-dipped in Round 3, taking another blocker in Maryland tackle Delmar Glaze at No. 77 overall.

Glaze measured 6-foot-4, 315 pounds at the combine. He served as the Terrapins' starting right tackle in 2022, then became the team's left tackle as a redshirt junior in 2023. He allowed just three sacks on the year.

Glaze said he met with Raiders' execs at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, and that they expressed interest in his ability to play multiple positions.

Like Powers-Johnson, he's open to lining up wherever the Las Vegas coaches think he'll fit best.

“I don’t really have a specific position,” Glaze said. “For me, the big thing is being comfortable anywhere. I played left tackle last year at Maryland, so that’s what I’m most recent at, but being able to come in and play tackle, play guard, I’m comfortable anywhere they play me.”

Telesco said Glaze took care of business at Maryland and projects as a right tackle at the NFL level.

“We see him more as a right tackle. Big frame, long arms, really productive college player. He blocked the guy in front of him very consistently, to keep it real general. Guy over him, run game, pass game, blocked his man.”

Las Vegas struggled to create holes in the running game last year, averaging 3.7 yards per rush (28th out of 32 teams). The team's pass blocking was better, but still mediocre, as the Raiders allowed sacks on 6.7% of dropbacks (16th in the NFL). Drafting Powers-Johnson and Glaze on Friday was a demonstration of how first-year general manager Tom Telesco is prioritizing the offensive line.

On Saturday, the Raiders have picks Nos. 112, 148, 208, 223 and 229.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.