Raiders create unexpected competition at center position in training camp
The Las Vegas Raiders have thrown a curveball in training camp, creating an unexpected position battle at center between second-year player Jackson Powers-Johnson and veteran guard Jordan Meredith, raising questions about the offensive line’s configuration under new coordinator Chip Kelly.
Surprising development emerges
After finishing the 2024 season as the starting center and excelling in that role, Powers-Johnson was widely expected to lock down the position heading into 2025. The 2023 Rimington Trophy winner—awarded to college football’s best center—had shown promise when he moved from guard to center midway through his rookie season.
However, through the first two weeks of training camp, head coach Pete Carroll has been rotating Powers-Johnson and Meredith equally at the center position. Meredith, who played exclusively at guard during his three NFL seasons and logged 574 snaps there in 2024, has taken first-team reps on multiple occasions.
“Both guys are battling and it just makes us better,” Carroll said after Tuesday’s practice, confirming this is a legitimate competition rather than mere experimentation.
Communication concerns surface
Las Vegas Review-Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore raised eyebrows with his observations on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast, suggesting the coaching staff might have concerns about Powers-Johnson’s readiness to handle the mental aspects of the center position.
“What was interesting is when Alex Cappa was in there, he was making the line calls,” Bonsignore noted. “Do you think [Powers-Johnson moving to guard] has to do with communication and understanding of the offense, and the understanding of calling things at the NFL level, that maybe they’re a little bit hesitant with Jackson Powers-Johnson right now?”
Bonsignore added that the situation appears “conspicuous,” wondering if Powers-Johnson might be “on notice” given the obvious nature of the position shuffle.
Powers-Johnson’s previous success
The development is particularly surprising given Powers-Johnson’s strong finish to his rookie season. After starting the year at left guard due to veteran Andre James holding the center spot, Powers-Johnson transitioned seamlessly when James suffered an injury. He allowed just one sack in his starts at center and showed the pancake blocks that made him a standout at Oregon.
“I think it’s for me it was mental,” Powers-Johnson had said earlier about his NFL transition. “You got to know way more cuz in college like they can’t give you as much of the picture.”
The second-year player has been working extensively with star defensive end Maxx Crosby this offseason to improve his conditioning and technique, even losing 15 pounds to better fit Kelly’s athletic offensive scheme.
Competition breeds excellence
While Meredith’s emergence at center is unexpected—Pro Football Focus graded him at an impressive 80.8 for the 2024 season as a guard—the competition aligns with Carroll’s philosophy of letting players earn their positions.
The offensive line configuration remains fluid, with only left tackle Kolton Miller seemingly locked into his spot. DJ Glaze, Alex Cappa, and Dylan Parham have been the primary players at the other positions, but the center battle could impact the entire interior alignment.
Looking ahead
With the Raiders’ first preseason game approaching August 7 against Seattle, the center competition will intensify when the pads come on. Powers-Johnson has made it clear he wants to be the team’s center, having introduced himself to rookie running back Ashton Jeanty as “your center” when the first-round pick arrived at the facility.
“I’ll do what the team needs me to do but I’m gonna make it a hard decision about me playing center or guard,” Powers-Johnson stated earlier this offseason.
For now, what appeared to be a settled position has become one of training camp’s most intriguing storylines. Whether this represents genuine concern about Powers-Johnson’s development or simply Carroll’s commitment to competition remains to be seen, but the situation bears watching as the Raiders attempt to rebuild their offense under new leadership.
Image Sources: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/chip-kelly-las-vegas-raiders-162250788.html
Category: Sports
Subcategory: Raiders News
Date: 08/04/2025
