A dominant offensive line won't single-handedly win you a championship, but a struggling line almost guarantees you won't reach the Super Bowl.
The Green Bay Packers' starting five has fallen short of expectations, and it's preventing the offense from launching out of first gear and into the stratosphere. While it's not an urgent need to address at the upcoming NFL trade deadline, the Packers should pay close attention to one player: Jackson Powers-Johnson.
A second-round pick in 2024, Powers-Johnson has fallen out of favor in Las Vegas, with many believing he could become available via trade. He would be a dream target for the Packers.
Packers should try to steal Jackson Powers-Johnson from Raiders after surprise benching
Powers-Johnson would've made sense for the Packers in the draft last year — he was an outstanding run-blocker in college and has experience at all three interior line positions.
And that translated to the NFL in his first season with the Raiders. Powers-Johnson made the PFWA All-Rookie Team, while his PFF run-blocking grade of 70.4 ranked 24th among guards.
However, the Oregon product has endured a rockier start to his second season, and after a nightmare performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, Raiders coach Pete Carroll surprisingly sent him to the bench.
Now, Levi Dombro of Just Blog Baby believes the second-year pro could become a trade piece.
"Powers-Johnson has had a hard time finding his footing with the new regime in Las Vegas. After a stellar rookie campaign in 2024, he's taken a significant step back this season," Dombro writes.
"Powers-Johnson thrived at center and left guard last year, and the Raiders have him at right guard in 2025, which is a major component of his dip in production. Head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are also clearly not fond of him, which might be taking a toll as well."
Dombro believes Powers-Johnson's failure to impress the new regime makes him a "sleeper trade candidate" before the deadline.
And Dombro certainly isn't alone. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named Powers-Johnson on a list of players who could be on the trade block.
It would still be a shocking development. Even in what's considered a disappointing season, his 72.0 PFF run-blocking grade is good for 11th at the guard position. For perspective, that's far better than any Packers interior lineman — Sean Rhyan is the closest with a 61.0 grade.
If the Raiders let him go for a Day 2 pick, it could be considered a trade deadline heist, and the Packers should call Pete Carroll and not hang up until a deal is done.
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Not only could Powers-Johnson immediately compete for a starting job at guard, where his run-blocking ability could help open up Green Bay's offense, but he could also become the long-term starting center.
That's where he played most of his college ball, winning the Rimington Trophy in 2023.
Elgton Jenkins' long-term future in Green Bay is up in the air. The Packers could make him a cap casualty in the offseason, creating a need for a new starting center. Just 22 years old, Powers-Johnson would be a perfect long-term replacement.
Per PFF, Powers-Johnson didn't allow a single sack in three years at Oregon while earning outstanding run-blocking grades of 84.5 and 83.6 in his final two seasons.
It's hard to understand why Carroll and the Raiders don't seem to appreciate Powers-Johnson's talent. His status is slipping under the radar, but if they consider a trade, the Packers should make a move for what would be a stunning deadline heist.