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Jackson Powers-Johnson Reveals Strong First Impression of Geno Smith

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated May 21, 2025 7:00 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the boldest moves of the offseason when new general manager John Spytek traded a third-round pick for 34-year-old quarterback Geno Smith. This was a much-needed upgrade for the franchise under center, and Smith made sense given his rapport with new head coach Pete Carroll.

Adding a new player into the mix, however, can throw things off for a team, especially when it is at a prominent position like quarterback. However, the Raiders were so bad last year, as evidenced by their four wins, that a jolt or major change is exactly what the franchise needed.

Center Jackson Powers-Johnson is one of the most crucial pieces of the offense, and it is paramount that he gets on the same page as Smith right away. He recently spoke on an episode of " The Rush With Maxx Crosby" about his initial impressions of the team's new signal-caller.

"I've played with a lot of great quarterbacks in my time," Powers-Johnson said. "I've been around a lot of elite talent and (Smith) kind of sets himself apart. Just his knowledge, and just with how much fun he likes to have with the game as well."

While Raider Nation knew that Smith was a highly regarded quarterback, hearing this glowing review from someone who works intimately with him means another thing entirely. The relationship between these two players will be key to the success of Las Vegas' offense, and it sounds like they are already off to a strong start.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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