The Las Vegas Raiders have taken several steps in working to improve their offensive line. One of the most critical pieces they have added is second-year center Jackson Powers-Johnson, whom the team drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon.
Powers-Johnson immediately stepped into a starting role on the team and looks to be someone who will be a fixture of this Raiders offensive line for a very long time. However, one moment from his rookie year has stuck out in the wrong wa,y and that came at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Cam Heyward.
In an appearance on The Rush Podcast with Maxx Crosby, Powers-Johnson was asked about his “Welcome to the NFL” moment and brought up giving up the first sack of his life at the hands of Heyward, and hoping he gets a chance to redeem himself against the Steelers great, via Andrew Vasquez of Yahoo Sports:
“You gotta say playing against Cam Heyward and giving up my first sack — ever, in my entire life. He didn’t beat me, I beat myself,” Powers-Johnson said with a grimace. “I beat myself. I overset. I overset and he got me. And [Heyward] said some choice words after, and I really hope he comes back for another year. That’s all I’m going to say.”
This mindset speaks to what Powers-Johnson is all about and why the Raiders drafted him last year. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and despite having a very good rookie season, allowing that sack to Heyward bothers him to the point that he wants the opportunity to make up for it.
There is no shame in being beaten by Heyward, who is one of the best defensive tackles of this generation. He has been a Pro Bowler in seven of the last eight seasons and a four-time All-Pro First Team selection who has 88.5 career sacks to his name. But unfortunately for Powers-Johnson, the Steelers are not on the Raiders’ schedule this season, so unless these teams meet in the playoffs, he will not get his chance for revenge.
ESPN names Raiders as one of three most improved teams in the NFL
Jackson Powers-Johnson will play a significant role as the Raiders look to make a big leap into playoff contention, and ESPN believes the team has made some important strides this offseason.
ESPN’s Ben Solak named the Raiders as one of the three most improved teams in the NFL, noting that the Raiders’ improvements at the quarterback and head coach positions put them in a much better position for success in 2025.
