The Las Vegas Raiders are certainly a popular franchise right now when it comes to other teams wanting to trade for their players, and the trade talks surrounding offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson aren’t going anywhere.
Powers-Johnson, who was not in the best relationship with the previous coaching staff, still has plenty of potential despite being moved from center to guard. But despite being the team’s projected starting right guard, Robert Mays of The Athletic noted in an episode of The Athletic Football Show that Powers-Johnson could be a trade candidate.
“I’d at least call about Jackson Powers-Johnson,” Mays said. “He’s had just like a weird stretch there where he’s bounced around positions. It’s a new coaching staff. So that’s another one where I would be like, ‘What do we think there?’ New front office.”
The Trade News Rumors Aren’t Going Away With Raiders’ OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
Raiders general manager John Spytek has made it known through both his words and actions that he’s always listening to trade offers. But in Jackson Powers-Johnson’s case, it wouldn’t make much sense to trade him as of now.
At guard, there are a lot of unknowns. Las Vegas signed Spencer Burford from the San Francisco 49ers, but he’s not expected to be a long-term piece on the offensive line. Looking down the depth chart, there’s potential with guys like Trey Zuhn III, Caleb Rogers, and Atonio Mafi, but to trade Powers-Johnson as of now would likely hurt the Raiders more than help them.
Unless a team wants to send a premium draft selection or player, it’s hard to believe Spytek would send him away.
Powers-Johnson is on the third year of his four-year rookie deal and isn’t breaking the Raiders’ bank financially. If anything, the team could be thinking about an extension for him, rather than trading him away.
Raiders May Have Found a Key Interior Offensive Lineman in Trey Zuhn III
Las Vegas had an excellent draft, and one selection that’s going relatively unnoticed is third-round pick, Trey Zuhn III.
With 50 starts in five seasons at Texas A&M, Zuhn is still just 23 years old and provides versatility along the entire offensive line with experience at tackle and center.
“Zuhn is an alert, athletic blocker who understands his strengths and reverts to what he does best to win reps,” Dane Brugler of The Athletic said. “He offers interior flex and will have starter-caliber upside in the right situation.”
This is the right situation for Zuhn.
There’s a chance for him to win the starting guard spot in the middle of Kolton Miller and Tyler Linderbaum, two of the NFL’s top offensive linemen, and even at right tackle, where DJ Glaze isn’t a lock for the starting spot.
It might be unfamiliar territory for Zuhn, but a challenge that he’s willing to work with. “Play wherever they need me,” he said. “Play whatever gets me on the field and, yeah, just block the guy in front of me. I just want to get on the field as quickly as possible, contribute to the team, and help out the team. So, wherever they need me, that’s where I’m going to be… Any of the five.”
If not, Zuhn will benefit from sitting and learning. Regardless, the Raiders are excited to have a versatile lineman like him in the mix, and with uncertainty at guard and right tackle, there’s a good chance Zuhn will see starting reps as a rookie.
The Trade News Rumors Aren’t Going Away With Raiders’ $8M Starter