You can never have enough good offensive linemen, and for the Philadelphia Eagles, there must be strength in numbers as the team moves closer to training camp and regular season action.
Out west, there may be a talented lineman being phased out of his team's plans. And according to Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice, it's a name well worth monitoring:
"Jackson Powers-Johnson was a highly-rated center prospect coming out of Oregon, but he has not found footing in Las Vegas in two seasons with the Raiders, who signed C Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million contract this offseason."
While noting that Powers-Johnson has taken snaps at all three interior line spots, Kempski cited a current standout in Philadelphia as a similar blocker, while honing in on the current situation surrounding the highly decorated former Ducks center.
"He (Powers-Johnson) reminds me a little of a shorter Landon Dickerson."
"This year, Powers-Johnson is in a camp battle for a starting guard spot with 2025 third-round pick Caleb Rogers. If it's looking like Powers-Johnson is losing that battle, the Raiders could view him as expendable, and the Eagles could view him as immediate iOL depth as well as a reclamation project who could potentially take over for Dickerson if Dickerson has an early retirement."
Highly touted second-rounder could thrive with a fresh start in Philadelphia
Back when Powers-Johnson was drafted by Las Vegas in 2024, former head coach Pete Carroll and his staff inexplicably shuffled the All-American out of Oregon around, and Raiders fans questioned the move as Powers-Johnson struggled at guard in Vegas. The 6-foot-3, 325-pounder can be a road grader in the ground game, and he can get after folks in the same manner as a Landon Dickerson-type when he's performing at an optimal level. But recent moves, including the Raiders' selection of Caleb Rogers, leave Powers-Johnson possibly on the outs in Sin City.
It seems to be a classic case of a young player being miscast, a promising prospect moved around a bit too much to get his footing and properly develop at the pro level. A fresh start could spell success for the former second-rounder, and with Philadelphia still a bit light in the depth chart of the offensive line room, Powers-Johnson could be a diamond in the training camp rough before long.
Philadelphia boasts perhaps the strongest offensive line in the game, when healthy. That's the key, though: keeping the starting unit intact. Lane Johnson and company are entering training camp fully locked and loaded, but those injury concerns still loom, and depth will be more important than ever.
Backups, including Drew Kendall, must show this coming training camp that they can handle a bigger role should the injury bug strike once again along the interior, where Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens fought injuries last season.
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Adding a young, versatile talent like Powers-Johnson is surely an idea for Howie Roseman to strongly consider in the coming weeks.
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