Raiders land steal in Round 2 with Jackson Powers-Johnson (2024)

Three days and 257 picks later, the 2024 NFL Draft is over.

From No. 1 (Bears quarterback Caleb Williams) to No. 257 (Jets safety Jaylen Key), you can catch up on all of the action here, with news, analysis and reaction from The Athletic's NFL staff.

View every selection in our pick-by-pick tracker.

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• 2024 NFL Draft by the numbers
• Best undrafted free agents

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HENDERSON, Nev. — Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft was all about the trenches for the Las Vegas Raiders. Shortly after they were hired in January, both coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco made it clear they intended to build the team through the big guys up front.

While they bolstered the defensive line by signing star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins last month, they went into the draft without making any major moves along the offensive line. They changed that in short order Friday by drafting Oregon guard Jackson Powers-Johnson with pick No. 44 in the second round and Maryland offensive tackle DJ Glaze with pick No. 77 in the third round.

“We felt that, as we build this football team out, it really has to start on both sides of the ball with the offensive and defensive line,” Telesco said Friday. “That was my thought when I originally arrived here, and AP had the same thought, which is perfect.”

After taking tight end Brock Bowers with pick No. 13 in the first round Thursday, the Raiders both maintained their best-player-available approach and reinforced the offensive trenches in selecting Powers-Johnson. Their most glaring needs heading into the second round were quarterback, offensive tackle and cornerback. When the Raiders came on the clock at pick No. 44, there were players available at all three positions they could’ve justified taking. Despite that, they opted for an interior offensive lineman and took Powers-Johnson, a unanimous All-American last season.

Powers-Johnson was the highest-rated player remaining on the Raiders’ draft board regardless of position. He was ranked No. 23 on The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler’s big board and No. 30 on The Athletic’s consensus big board, so landing him with pick No. 44 is widely considered to be excellent value. He got emotional while surrounded by his family and friends when he received his draft call from the Raiders.

“Humbling, plain and simple,” Powers-Johnson said Friday. “I’ve worked so hard, but it’s not really about me; it’s all the people that really helped get me here. I was fortunate enough to have all my family here and every single person that really helped me along my journey. … The dream has been fulfilled, but now there’s new dreams to get.”

“So you want me to comment about how important a guy’s ass is in the evaluation?” Mike Mayock asked, laughing. “You’re really doing this, huh?”

For years, the humble human haunches have been key indicators for football scouts as they evaluated players. Mayock, the former Las Vegas Raiders general manager, has reluctantly been installed as leader of the Cult of the Caboose since referencing the rump multiple times as an NFL Network draft analyst in the 2010s, which makes him a great source for a story about seats.

“Over the years on television, I used to call it a power generator, and really, it was to be a little cute and funny with a germ of truth. It just kind of became representative of a strong lower body,” Mayock said. Sure enough, YouTube is full of clips in which Mayock references a player’s “bubble” butt.

“I said it on the air at the combine multiple times to the point that it was almost embarrassing because our cameramen would be getting shots of the guy from behind to illustrate it,” Mayock said.

At least he’s in good company. Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick is a fellow devotee of the derriere, according to Georgia coach Kirby Smart. In a video posted to X last year, Smart described the time he joined Belichick to watch defensive linemen run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Smart, then the Dolphins’ safeties coach, was confused by Belichick watching the drill from behind the starting line.

“I was like, ‘Why are we here? You can’t time the finish,'” Smart said. Dolphins coach Nick Saban, a friend and former colleague of Belichick’s, had the answer, according to Smart: “Bill likes to look and see how big their ass is when they get down in a 40-yard stance because he wants to sign the biggest-assed defensive linemen he can sign.”

There is science behind this slightly cringy bit of scouting, the “germ of truth” Mayock mentioned.

“In a broad sense, muscle hypertrophy (size) relates to muscle strength,” said Dr. Alexandra DeJong Lempke, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “Usually a larger muscle indicates higher ability to produce force. So when you think of sprinting and explosive movements, that’s primarily driven from the glute maximus to give that explosive first step.”

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Everything you need to know about the New England Patriots' draft so far:

• Patriots' draft picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports
• Best available for Day 3: Javon Baker, Cam Hart
• How the Patriots spurned trade offers and decided on QB Drake Maye at No. 3 in the draft

Everything you need to know about the New York Giants' draft so far:

• Giants' draft picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports
• Best available players for Day 3: Braelon Allen, Audric Estime
• Daniel Jones getting one more chance, as Giants draft Malik Nabers after failing to trade up for QB

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It might have taken a little longer than many expected, but the San Francisco 49ers finally selected a big man up front to close their second day of work at the 2024 NFL Draft.

That pick in the third round — at No. 86 — was Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni, analyst Dane Brugler’s fifth-rated guard in this draft pool. Puni didn’t give up a sack over 784 pass-blocking opportunities in his two seasons with the Jayhawks. He played both guard and tackle for Kansas before seeing reps at center during the Senior Bowl, making the 49ers optimistic that Puni can be a valuable contributor wherever he’s needed across their front.

“It’s not often that you can say about a player that he can play all five,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said. “And we believe that’s the case with him. He’s a solid football player.”

Offensive line was a glaring position of need entering this draft. The 49ers struggled with pass protection ahead of quarterback Brock Purdy last season. They ranked in the 20s across several metrics and allowed nine unblocked pressures on blitzes in the Super Bowl. Beyond that, starting guards Aaron Banks and Jon Feliciano are both under contract for only one more season and left tackle Trent Williams turns 36 in July.

The 49ers had hosted Puni on a pre-draft visit earlier this month, although it had gone unreported in the media until after Friday’s selection.

“There was a good feel there during that visit,” Lynch said. “We liked the tape. We liked the versatility and we wanted to make him a Niner.”

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Everything you need to know about the Philadelphia Eagles' draft so far:

• Eagles NFL Draft picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports
• Best available for Day 3: Brenden Rice, Christian Mahogany
• Cooper DeJean joins Quinyon Mitchell as new Eagles DBs hoping to shore up secondary

Washington State safety Jaden Hicks (No. 39 overall) is the best player available entering the fourth round — and the only player remaining in our top 50.

Hicks is a rangy, intimidating presence, both downhill and on the back end, and he offers the multi-dimensional traits to develop into an NFL starter. He projects as a scheme-friendly safety who should also contribute immediately on special teams.

Everything you need to know about the Dallas Cowboys' draft so far:

• Cowboys' draft picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports
• Best available for Day 3: Jaylen Wright, Braelon Allen
• Cowboys deserve credit for turning 24th overall pick into 2 potential O-line starters

The Buffalo Bills find themselves in a strange stage of a championship window: transitioning away from franchise cornerstones, forced to go younger — and still feeling that, with Josh Allen under center, they’ve got as good a shot as any AFC contender at knocking off the Chiefs. This offseason, Buffalo said goodbye to the likes of cornerback Tre’Davious White, safety Jordan Poyer, center Mitch Morse, receiver Gabe Davis and — perhaps most stunning of all — No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs. That leaves some sizable roster holes to fill, namely at receiver (who will Allen throw to?) and in the defensive backfield.

With the first pick of the second round, general manager Brandon Beane went with Keon Coleman out of Florida State, a rangy receiver who will have the chance to become a go-to target of Allen’s almost immediately. Later in the round, Beane grabbed one of the best safeties in the draft in Cole Bishop out of Utah, who could fight for starting reps early. The Bills’ reset is on — and hitting on these picks is a must with Allen’s weighty contract hovering over their future.

Everything you need to know about the Washington Commanders' draft:

• Commanders' draft picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports
• Best available for Day 3: Austin Booker, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
• Commanders GM Adam Peters proud of draft process two days in: ‘We got a lot better’

EAGAN, Minn. — The waiting is the hardest part.

The Minnesota Vikings had been simulating the first round of the NFL Draft for weeks. The team’s ownership even participated in the discussions. Then Thursday night finally arrived, and the clock began to tick.

Executives sat uneasily inside the TCO Performance draft room. The coaching staff gathered in another meeting room. They watched, paced, winced, checked social media, fired off texts, watched television. Most of all, they waited for the announcement of the franchise’s quarterback of the future.

The wait did not end at No. 3. Instead, the New England Patriots selected Drake Maye.

The wait did not end at No. 4 or 5. Neither the Arizona Cardinals nor the Los Angeles Chargers traded down.

Some within the Vikings building wondered if the New York Giants would sway the proceedings at No. 6, but the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 caused some commotion on the second and third floors. Michael Penix Jr.’s removal from the draft board spurred Minnesota into action.

The team couldn’t wait any longer.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah dialed up New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas, moved up a spot to No. 10, selected Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy (with the highest pick the franchise has ever used on a quarterback) and immediately dialed him up.

“Come on!” McCarthy said once he answered.

“Let’s go!” Adofo-Mensah responded.

“Come on!” McCarthy said again.

“What’d you promise me?” Adofo-Mensah asked.

“I promised you we’re going to win,” McCarthy said.

Twenty minutes later, the coaching staff heard that Minnesota was picking again. The Vikings had again traded to move up the draft board from 23 to 17. Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, a favorite of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, immediately received a call (and became the first edge rusher the Vikings have taken in the first round since Erasmus James in 2005). Once the selection hit the league database, one AFC executive said, “Good player at good value.” An NFC staffer texted, “Best player on the board at that time.”

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SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA — Prospect X tightens his grip on his fork. His hand swallows up the frail utensil. He takes a deep breath and sighs it out, shaking his head back and forth to reset.

“Come on!” he shouts as he wills himself to take another giant bite.

The meat lover’s skillet normally comes with two eggs, but X ordered his with four extra. He’s a regular here at this small-town diner, and the waitress jokes he cleans out their fridge “ordering 25 eggs” each time he comes by.

The skillet is the second of three plates of food he absolutely has to put away for lunch. X has already polished off a massive two-patty burger topped with bleu cheese, bacon and another egg. He hit a wall halfway through the six-egg skillet with bacon, ham and sausage. He’s still got a Nutella and banana crepe taunting him on plate No. 3.

X’s tattooed biceps bulge out of a navy blue short-sleeve shirt baring the logo of an NFL team he recently visited. He’s always been a big eater — when he was out to eat with his parents around 8 or 9 years old, he cried at the prospect of ordering off the kid’s menu. “Two chicken fingers?” he says. “What’s that going to do for you?” — but he’s gained nearly 30 pounds this offseason in his quest to get ready for the league.

This kind of extreme eating is tough work. He’s up to 306 pounds, and while he’s training his body to hold that new weight, he has to keep eating. “My mom would be like, ‘Get a to-go box!'” he says. But giving up is not an option. “I know what my goal is, and 300-plus looks way prettier than 290.”

Sitting next to him in the diner booth is his roommate and best friend, his college team’s Australian punter. X offers him a bite of his skillet, and he takes a small forkful. “That was a little-ass bite, bro,” X says.

He fights through the rest of the skillet, sips water, stretches and cheers himself on again. The sweet crepe goes down relatively easily, and he takes a picture of his three spotless plates to send to some of the other prospects he’d trained with this winter — they couldn’t believe how much he’d eat.

He gets tired of eating like this, but this is what it takes when you’re a small-school prospect in a run-down town and the draft is just a week away.

I spent the last two months searching for the most overlooked prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. After canvassing scouts, tracking the results of pro day workouts, watching tape and strategizing like a general manager, I picked a player I believe is the draft’s best-kept secret: a small school prospect with no combine invite and no top-three all-star game appearance but a good shot to get drafted.

For each of the past five years, readers of this series have made their best guesses as to X’s identity, which will be revealed in a follow-up story after the draft. But for now — to allow him to be honest about the pre-draft process and for the sake of the NFL teams in pursuit — he is “Prospect X.”

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The quarterback versus wide receiver debate dominated the pre-NFL draft conversations around the New York Giants so much that the other glaring weaknesses on this roster seemed to go largely ignored.

But not by the Giants. They knew that one pick, even one as high as No. 6, wasn’t going to significantly alter their trajectory by itself. As general manager Joe Schoen said recently, the Giants were “not one player away or two players” away from building a complete team.

The Giants’ roster had a lot of holes entering the draft, and after wide receiver Malik Nabers closed one of the biggest Thursday night, Schoen got to work Friday night closing some others in the Giants’ depleted secondary.

The Giants selected safety Tyler Nubin out of Minnesota with their second-round pick (No. 47 overall) and then chose Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips with their third-round selection (No. 70).

The two picks were made with the hope they’d become part of a young defensive core that could play together for years to come — similar to the team building Schoen experienced during his stint as assistant GM in Buffalo.

“I know people want instant gratification, but it takes time to build this, and then over time, you have guys who create continuity because they play together year over year,” Schoen said. “I do think we have pieces in place that I like that are going to be together for a couple of years here.”

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One of the best Day 2 picks, in my opinion, was the Chargers landing Michigan linebacker Junior Colson in the third round. I thought Colson would be the second Michigan player off the board after J.J. McCarthy, so the value here is obviously good, but it goes much deeper than that. It also goes deeper than the Jim Harbaugh connection, as he obviously recruited Colson and knows his context better than any coach in the NFL.

But Harbaugh also hired ex-Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to run L.A.’s new defense. Do not be surprised if Colson is not just the Chargers’ new starting MIKE linebacker but also its on-field defensive play caller. Colson started as a true freshman at Michigan for current Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and was Macdonald’s favorite player during his one season with the Wolverines. Minter runs a lot of the same stuff and seemed to lean on Colson even more than Macdonald did.

Washington’s offense had six players go in the top 100 of the NFL Draft. Michigan’s defense, led by Minter and Colson, completely dominated the Huskies in a way nobody else did during Michael Penix’s two seasons with the program. This was a terrific pick.

• 65. New York Jets (from Carolina): Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
• 66. Arizona Cardinals: Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
• 67. Washington Commanders: Brandon Coleman, G, TCU
• 68. New England Patriots: Caeden Wallace, OT, Penn State
• 69. Los Angeles Chargers: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
• 70. New York Giants: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
• 71. Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): Isaiah Adams, OT, Illinois
• 72. Carolina Panthers (from N.Y Jets): Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
• 73. Dallas Cowboys (from Detroit through Minnesota): Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
• 74. Atlanta Falcons: Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington
• 75. Chicago Bears: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
• 76. Denver Broncos: Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah
• 77. Las Vegas Raiders: Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
• 78. Houston Texans (from Philadelphia through Washington and Seattle): Calen Bullock, S, USC
• 79. Indianapolis Colts (from Arizona through Atlanta and Jacksonville): Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
• 80. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
• 81. Seattle Seahawks (from New Orleans through Denver): Christian Haynes, G, UConn
• 82. Arizona Cardinals (from Indianapolis): Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
• 83. Los Angeles Rams: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
• 84. Pittsburgh Steelers: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
• 85. Cleveland Browns: Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
• 86. San Francisco 49ers (from Philadelphia through Houston and Philadelphia): Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
• 87. Dallas Cowboys: Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame
• 88. Green Bay Packers: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
• 89. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
• 90. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
• 91. Green Bay Packers (from Buffalo): Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
• 92. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Detroit): Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
• 93. Baltimore Ravens: Adisa Isaac, Edge, Penn State
• 94. Philadelphia Eagles (from San Francisco): Jalyx Hunt, Edge, Houston Christian
• 95. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke
• 96. Jacksonville Jaguars (compensatory): Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State
• 97. Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory): McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
• 98. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Philadelphia, compensatory): Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
• 99. Los Angeles Rams (special compensatory): Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
• 100. Washington Commanders (from San Francisco, special compensatory): Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

• 33. Buffalo Bills (from Carolina): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
• 34. Los Angeles Chargers (from New England): Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
• 35. Atlanta Falcons (from Arizona): Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
• 36. Washington Commanders: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
• 37. New England Patriots (from L.A. Chargers): Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
• 38. Tennessee Titans: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
• 39. Los Angeles Rams (from Carolina through N.Y. Giants): Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
• 40. Philadelphia Eagles (from Washington through Chicago): Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
• 41. New Orleans Saints (from Green Bay through N.Y. Jets): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
• 42. Houston Texans (from Minnesota): Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
• 43. Arizona Cardinals (from Atlanta): Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
• 44. Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
• 45. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans through Denver): Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
• 46. Carolina Panthers (from Indianapolis): Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
• 47. New York Giants (from Seattle): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
• 48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Maason Smith, DT, LSU
• 49. Cincinnati Bengals: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
• 50. Washington Commanders (from Philadelphia through New Orleans): Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
• 51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
• 52. Indianapolis Colts (from Carolina through L.A. Rams): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
• 53. Washington Commanders (from Philadelphia): Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
• 54. Cleveland Browns: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
• 55. Miami Dolphins: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
• 56. Dallas Cowboys: Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
• 57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama
• 58. Green Bay Packers: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
• 59. Houston Texans: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
• 60. Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop, S, Utah
• 61. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
• 62. Baltimore Ravens: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
• 63. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco): Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
• 64. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City): Renardo Green, CB, Florida State

Recapping the draft so far, beginning with Thursday's first round:

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
10. Minnesota Vikings (from N.Y. Jets): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
11. New York Jets (from Minnesota): Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
17. Minnesota Vikings (from Jacksonville): Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Minnesota through Cleveland and Houston): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
24. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
28. Kansas City Chiefs (from Buffalo): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
29. Dallas Cowboys (from Detroit): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
32. Carolina Panthers (from Buffalo through Kansas City): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina