‘Prototype’ Vikings Youngster Lands on NFL Watchlist During Training Camp

The Minnesota Vikings spent a first-round pick on former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson, and the move could pay tremendous dividends. NFL.com’s Dan Parr listed Jackson among his 32 rookies who will play “pivotal” roles for their team this season.

Jackson is one of 18 first-round picks on the list, and one of four guards.

The Vikings need him to be a force up front, keeping quarterback J.J. McCarthy clean and moving the pile in the run game.

“With only one pick in the top 100 and five picks total this year, options for the Vikings were limited. Fortunately, Jackson is a deserving candidate. He was the final piece to this offseason’s rebuilding of the interior offensive line, following the signings of Ryan Kelly and Will Fries,” Parr wrote on August 7.

“He’ll play left guard in Minnesota, where he’s the prototype at the position thanks to his excellent size and power. Jackson’s performance will be one of the keys to ensuring a smooth first year as a starter for QB J.J. McCarthy.”

The Vikings received strong reviews for selecting Jackson.

“You know why I really like this pick? He’s going to be a solid 10-year starter,” an anonymous NFL coordinator said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in June. “Not sure he’s elite, but he will make a few Pro Bowls and be a really good player for a long time.”

The Vikings made Jackson the sixth offensive lineman off the board in April, and the third who projected as a guard in the NFL.

Vikings Praise Rookie 1st-Round Draft Donovan Jackson

The Vikings tied for the sixth-most sacks allowed during the 2024 regular season. This season, they are breaking in a new, first-time starting QB in McCarthy. So far, Jackson is impressing in his role for the Vikings.

“He’s got tremendous, tremendous lower body strength and power. His ability to bend and sit down on rushes, I would say, is similar to Christian Darrisaw in the way that they can bend their hips in ways that most guys can’t, and they’re super flexible with a balanced, strong base,” starting right tackle Brian O’Neill told Paul Allen on “#92Noon” on August 4.

“That’s something you can’t really teach. You can teach a lot of technique, but you can’t really teach the ability to bend and play low with a strong, powerful base.”

“I think Donovan’s having a really good camp. I really do. Maybe one of the more consistent guys, just kind of showing up every single day up front right there from a standpoint of throwing a lot at him, trying to get it to slow down for him,” O’Connell told reporters on August 4.

“That’s probably been the coolest thing, is when you know he’s not comfortable, yet you get a lot of the natural reactions of a player. And he’s – that’s been a good movie to watch from a standpoint of, ‘Holy cow,’ like, Jonathan Allen’s got him in a pretty vulnerable spot, or [Javon] Hargrave on some movement that he wasn’t expecting, and just watching the way he not only plays out that down, but then applies it moving forward has been really exciting.”

Vikings RBs to Benefit From Rookie’s Presence

Vikings running backs Aaron Jones and newcomer Jordan Mason, whom the team acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, are also poised to benefit from Jackson’s presence up front.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings gained the fifth-fewest yards before contact per rushing attempt.

The Vikings ranked 14th in carries and 19th in rushing yards last season.

Leaning on Jackson and the offensive line in the running game will take pressure off McCarthy and the passing attack, which has not had Justin Jefferson in training camp and will lose Jordan Addison for the first three weeks of the regular season.