Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Despite Jackson Powers-Johnson’s success playing center in college and briefly during his rookie year with the Las Vegas Raiders, the team’s coaching staff across two regimes has preferred to use him at guard. According to a team source, Powers-Johnson has struggled with the mental demands of setting protections, identifying the ‘Mike’ linebacker, and making line adjustments required of an NFL center in the Raiders’ system. Writer Ted Nguyen argues this is why the Raiders have kept Powers-Johnson at guard, where he can focus on blocking without the added responsibility.

Why it matters

The debate over Powers-Johnson’s optimal position on the offensive line has been a point of contention among Raiders fans, who have seen the team struggle in recent seasons and question the accuracy of their talent evaluations. However, Nguyen’s analysis provides a logical explanation rooted in the specific demands of the center role in the Raiders’ system under new head coach Klint Kubiak.

The details

In Kubiak’s offense, the center holds crucial responsibilities such as setting the protection scheme, identifying the ‘Mike’ linebacker, and managing line adjustments, with the quarterback having authority to change calls but the center making the final decisions most of the time. Nguyen suggests Powers-Johnson’s skills may be better suited to the guard position, where he can focus on blocking without the added mental load of these tasks.

Powers-Johnson was drafted by the Raiders in the second round after winning the Rimington Trophy at Oregon as the best center in college football.Powers-Johnson began his rookie season playing guard until injury circumstances moved him to the center position.
The players

Jackson Powers-Johnson

A second-round draft pick by the Las Vegas Raiders who has gained widespread admiration for his performance on the offensive line, but has faced debate over whether he should play guard or center.

Klint Kubiak

The new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, whose offensive system places significant demands on the center position.

Ted Nguyen

A writer for The Athletic who provided a detailed analysis of the Raiders’ offensive future and why Powers-Johnson’s best fit may be at guard rather than center.

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What they’re saying

“Jackson Powers-Johnson has the talent to be the Raiders’ second-best offensive lineman. He wants to play center, but according to a team source, he struggled to make the checks and adjustments at the line of scrimmage required of a center, which is why the Raiders’ two previous staffs didn’t want to play him at center.”

— Ted Nguyen, Writer at The Athletic (The Athletic)

“In Kubiak’s system, the center is in charge of setting the protection, pointing to the ‘Mike’ linebacker, and making adjustments at the line. The quarterback has authority to change it, but the center is going to make the final call a vast majority of the time. Powers-Johnson’s best fit may be at guard, where he can play freely without the burden of all this responsibility. That makes finding a veteran center a huge priority for the Raiders, especially with the possibility of starting a rookie quarterback.”

— Ted Nguyen, Writer at The Athletic (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Raiders’ offseason signings and draft picks will likely reveal their true intentions for Powers-Johnson’s role, as investing heavily in a veteran center would indicate he is expected to remain at guard, while leaving the center position largely unaddressed might suggest the team is willing to give Powers-Johnson another opportunity at the position.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of understanding the specific demands of a position within a team’s offensive system, as well as the need for coaches to balance a player’s personal preferences with the practical requirements of the role. While Raiders fans may be eager to see Powers-Johnson prove himself at center, the team’s coaching staff has consistently prioritized his fit at guard based on the mental responsibilities required of the center position in their offense.