By Derek Hegna,Dice City Sports

Copyright yardbarker

One of the major points of contentions between the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff and fanbase has been the usage of second-year offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Prior to training camp, it was the consensus understanding that Powers-Johnson was a fixture on the offensive line, with most presuming that he was the long-term option at center. However, things took a turn when the Raiders shifted him back to guard, instead turning to Jordan Meredith at center. After Powers-Johnson remained on the bench in favor of veteran Alex Cappa despite being able to return from a concussion in Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, questions began to sink in about where the former second-round pick stood in the Raiders’ long-term plans.

The questions have grown loud enough to the point where opposing teams might be curious if they can land a potential long-term building block for cheap.

The Raiders are going to have to handle the Powers-Johnson situation with greater urgency to stop further rumors.

Sports Illustrated’s Mike Moraitis officially cast the first stone, suggesting that the Carolina Panthers would be in line to inquire about Powers-Johnson’s status.

“It would be weird for the Raiders to give up on Powers-Johnson this early given the promise he showed in 2024, but Las Vegas’ current regime isn’t the one that drafted him, so it’s possible Powers-Johnson could be moved,” Moraitis wrote.

“JPJ would offer the Panthers a solution at guard or center, and he could very well turn into a long-term answer at one of those spots given his age (22) and the fact that he’s only in the second year of his rookie contract.”

To be clear, there are no rumblings that either the Raiders or Powers-Johnson are open to a trade, but the fact it is even being discussed at all is alarming.

While Powers-Johnson has been serviceable at guard, he is at his best when he is allowed to play his more natural position of center. Between continuously changing positions and the general regression of the Raiders offensive line this season, any frustration has to come off as at least somewhat understandable. If the divide between Powers-Johnson and the Raiders grows to the point of a trade request, it could lead to disastrous consequences.

The Raiders should not entertain the notion of a Powers-Johnson trade, but they do need to start doing right by him before it is no longer their choice to make.