Latest news with #TomTelesco
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2 days ago
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Raiders' OL Reveals Significant Offseason Change at OTAs
Raiders' OL Reveals Significant Offseason Change at OTAs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders failed to gain any traction during the 2024 NFL season. While injuries certainly did not help, poor coaching by Antonio Pierce and bad personnel decisions by general manager Tom Telesco were responsible for the team's four-win campaign as well. Advertisement Ever since being fired in January, Telesco has been dragged by Raiders fans for the addition of quarterback Gardner Minshew and the failure to re-sign 2022 First-Team All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs, However, Telesco made three great selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. This netted Las Vegas First-Team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, All-Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson and starting right tackle DJ Glaze. Las Vegas Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson (58).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Powers-Johnson overcame a slew of preseason injuries and was a solid starter for the Raiders at both guard and center last season. Now, the new regime in Las Vegas plans to play him exclusively at center. Advertisement He spoke to the media last week after an OTA workout and revealed that he made a significant change this offseason. "I've really hammered down a routine. I've lost 10 to 15 pounds," Powers-Johnson said. "I'm faster, I'm stronger, I'm getting a lot better at technique. ... I think I'm going to make a great jump. I'm going to give it as best as I got and have some fun." During his senior season at Oregon, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy. This is given annually to the best center in college football, so his position change makes sense. As a rookie, he gained ample experience as he played 956 snaps in 15 games, 14 of which he started. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 535 at offensive guard and 421 at center, earning an overall grade of 63.9, which ranked in the middle of the pack for interior offensive linemen. Advertisement Powers-Johnson has the ability to become an All-Pro or Pro Bowl-level player for the Silver and Black. He will need to continue growing and improving throughout his NFL career to achieve this, and he is already starting with a major change this offseason. Related: Ashton Jeanty Receives 4-Word Message From Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson Related: Raiders Veteran LB Praises North Carolina Coach Bill Belichick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
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Former Raiders GM Makes Admission About Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix
Former Raiders GM Makes Admission About Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll and John Spytek to lead the franchise this offseason, which marks the third straight year that the team has both a new head coach and general manager. Advertisement Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco only got one year at the helm of the Silver and Black, and while the results were disastrous, Telesco actually added several solid pieces to the roster. In the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, he grabbed First-Team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, All-Rookie lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, and starting right tackle DJ Glaze. Unfortunately, Telesco was still fired this offseason after a four-win campaign in 2024. Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix (10) and former Las Vegas Raiders RB Ameer Abdullah (8).Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Many wanted the Raiders to be aggressive and target a quarterback of the future in last year's draft. Telesco was quite selective, however, which netted them Bowers in the first round and no young signal-callers to show for it. Advertisement His failure to grab a quarterback was not entirely in his control, however. Telesco was featured on an episode of "Check the Mic" on Thursday, and he talked about both Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. 'Other than Jayden Daniels, (trading up for a QB) was a non-starter," Telesco said. "Bo Nix, his background of work, his durability, his movement skills, that would've been a good possibility (at 13)." Unfortunately, the Raiders' roster was not in a position to trade up for Daniels, and the Commanders did not want to move back anyway. Nix also came off the board just one pick ahead of Las Vegas, when their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos, selected him at No. 12 overall. Both players had strong rookie seasons, as Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game and won the 2025 NFL Rookie of the Year Award. Nix also led the Broncos to 10 wins and finished third in the Rookie of the Year award voting, behind Daniels and Bowers. Advertisement Ultimately, this is water under the bridge considering Telesco is now out of a job and there is a new regime in place in Las Vegas. However, Raider Nation cannot help but imagine what could have been if things went a bit differently in the 2024 NFL Draft. Related: Pete Carroll's Behavior at Raiders OTAs Turns Heads Related: Ashton Jeanty Receives 4-Word Message From Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
