Latest news with #DonovanJackson
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Minnesota Vikings Select… Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Minnesota Vikings fans, along with anyone else who follows the NFL, waited 364 days for tonight to come. The NFL Draft has become one of the most important and idolized days on the entire league calendar each year. That is saying something too, since everything the NFL does these days becomes a holiday, whether that's the Super Bowl, the scouting combine or an exhibition game in another country. But in 2025, few events hold a candle to the draft. And on Thursday, the MN Vikings came into the first round holding the No. 24 overall pick. Advertisement With only four total selections in their pocket for the entire draft, the Vikings' 'perfect world' scenario tonight included a trade-back. Kwesi & Co wanted more picks to work with in days two and three. Of course, we knew going in that would be easier said than done. Minnesota Vikings select… Donovan Jackson – OG – Ohio State After offensive linemen they were originally linked to like Grey Zabel and Tyler Booker went off the board long before they got an opportunity to to draft them, the Minnesota Vikings fought off multiple trade calls to move back, instead choosing to select Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson at No. 24 overall. Jackson was a three year starter for the Buckeyes, where he played on the left side at both tackle and guard in 2024. Obviously, he will be playing guard with the Minnesota Vikings, which is his preferred position. Advertisement Leading up to the draft, the Vikings preferred a left guard, over right guard, being Will Fries has played only right guard during his four-year NFL career. Jackson fits that profile perfectly, as he has played almost exclusively on the left side of the Ohio State offensive line during his three years as a starter. Related: Minnesota Vikings Involved in Kirk Cousins Trade Talks… but Not Really During his collegiate career, Donovan Jackson allowed only 5 sacks and 42 total pressures, according to PFF. Last season, he scored a 71.8 overall PFF grade (70.2 RBLK, 69.9 PBLK), which was consistent with what he graded during his sophomore and junior seasons. Donovan Jackson overview (
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Vikings rookie minicamp: What we learned, including a new QB and two intriguing young CBs
EAGAN, Minn. — Rookie minicamp is a sign that the real action is inching closer. Free agency is over, and the Minnesota Vikings have completed the NFL Draft. The NFL schedule will be announced next week, and organized team activities will commence soon after. There weren't many surprises on Friday. Donovan Jackson, the team's first-round pick, participated in drills with offensive line coach Chris Kuper and assistant O-line coach Keith Carter. The defensive line practiced stunts on one side of the field, while the offense practiced route concepts. What did we learn? Here are three thoughts following the afternoon workout. Let's get it, @D_jack78! 💜 — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 9, 2025 A few months ago, at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Travis Hunter was asked to identify the toughest cornerbacks he faced in college football. Hunter didn't name anybody specifically, but he mentioned players from two schools: Nebraska and Oklahoma State. The Cornerhusker in question was Tommi Hill. At one time, Hill, 23, was projected by some draft analysts to be an early-round pick. He played in only seven games this past season for coach Matt Rhule and struggled mightily down the stretch. Still, The Athletic's Dane Brugler graded him as a fifth- or sixth-round talent. Advertisement Hill went undrafted. Lingering plantar fasciitis concerns likely played a role. Hill's topsy-turvy college path, going from Arizona State to Nebraska, may have also mattered. The Vikings, though, invited him in as a tryout player during rookie minicamp. It won't be an easy path to the roster, but Hill's progress is worth monitoring. 'I've got to prove a lot,' he said. 'Prove to everybody that I should've been drafted, even when I got hurt.' Hill accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but said he was still navigating injuries. The decision to play, he said, was 'because I hadn't put a helmet on in a minute.' In other words, he believed he needed to remind NFL evaluators what he was capable of. The film leaves little doubt, especially in the matchup with Colorado and Hunter. Hill recalled a wildly impressive pick six in the first quarter of that game against Shedeur Sanders. Nebraska, he said, lined up in Cover 4. Hill hollered at teammate Malcolm Hartzog Jr. to pinch down toward the line of scrimmage to trick Sanders into thinking they were playing Cover 3. Sanders, Hill said, believed he could throw an out route to the flat. Hill read the play immediately, snagged the pass with outstretched arms and trotted into the end zone. PICK SIX NEBRASKA 😱@HuskerFootball — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 8, 2024 As for the matchup with Hunter, Hill said he wanted to get in Hunter's head. 'He's a trash-talker,' Hill said. 'I'm a trash-talker, too. I can trash-talk the whole game if I need to.' Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell attends the Minnesota Golden Gophers' pro day each spring. He and Gophers coach P.J. Fleck have developed a rapport. The Gophers typically have some interesting draft prospects, and O'Connell likes to support the program. Unsurprisingly, the coach's eyes often wander to the quarterbacks. Advertisement Because underclassmen could participate in pro days last year, quarterback Max Brosmer was there. O'Connell viewed Brosmer's sidearm release and noticed his ball placement and drop consistency. He filed the impression away. It came in handy this year. Brosmer, who thought he could be selected on Day 3 of the draft, was not and became an undrafted free agent. O'Connell is not one to pass up on quarterbacks he feels can contribute, both to the dynamics in the room and to what's possible on the field. So, the Vikings offered Brosmer an opportunity. 'We've spent some time with their coaching staff,' O'Connell said. 'Sharing ideas, how we do things, some of the ways we teach things. So, there's good carryover with some things that he's done.' Brosmer didn't perform perfectly on Friday. He threw multiple interceptions, though in these camps, mistakes like that can often be blamed on receiver positioning. He did, though, layer a few passes perfectly toward the sideline. He looked comfortable progressing with reads as well. The Vikings have been intentional with the way they've constructed their quarterback room around J.J. McCarthy. It's youth. It's positive energy. It's professionalism. Though Brosmer has not played in an NFL game, and though his ceiling may be limited by his athletic traits and arm strength, his intangibles should fit nicely with how McCarthy operates. Last year, the Minnesota staff identified cornerback Dwight McGlothern as an undrafted prospect who could compete for a roster spot. McGlothern impressed in training camp and even secured an interception in Cleveland during joint practices. His development remains an intriguing layer to this spring and summer in an unproven cornerback room. But he'll have competition. Maybe the most impressive play of the day occurred on the left sideline, as Brosmer tried to layer a pass into a pocket in the defense's zone coverage. Zemaiah Vaughn, an undrafted cornerback from Utah, leaped and secured the interception. Advertisement Afterward, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and even O'Connell patted Vaughn on the helmet. The undrafted signee is a classic Brian Flores corner. He's long at 6-foot-2 and 186 pounds and can run. His ball skills were particularly evident on this particular play. Morgan Scalley, the defensive coordinator at Utah, said recently, 'With that length and speed and (Vaughn's) ability to sink his hips, I think his best football is ahead of him.' Vaughn is a former quarterback from Beaumont, Texas, who has been playing defense for fewer than five seasons. The Vikings weren't the only team to prioritize him in undrafted free agency. One AFC executive commended Minnesota for securing Vaughn's services. Vaughn's aptitude and ability to pick up the defense may ultimately decide his chances of pushing McGlothern for a roster spot. At a bare minimum, it can't hurt for Minnesota to have additional enticing young cornerbacks.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone Wyatt Milum, Caleb Ransaw ‘possess Jaguar DNA'
Donovan Jackson talks being drafted by Vikings No. 24 overall Former Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson spoke with Minnesota media Thursday night after being taken No. 24 overall by the Vikings in the NFL Draft. 7:14 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where do the Vikings land in the post-NFL Draft power rankings?
Where do the Vikings land in the post-NFL Draft power rankings? It is always fun to see where teams land in power rankings. In the offseason, we don't get many updates on those, as the rosters only drastically change twice: once during free agency and again during the NFL Draft. Free agency has come and gone, and the NFL Draft ended a week ago. Some teams have seen their stock rise significantly, while others have seen themselves stay stagnant. The Vikings started to tick up the rankings just a little bit after free agency. They entered the NFL Draft ranked seventh, and now they have earned a tenth-place ranking from NFL Media's Eric Edholm after the draft. That drop is one of the larger ones among any team on the list, and it makes sense when you look at what people are saying about their class. He writes, "I was a little surprised with how the first round went. I was a fan of Donovan Jackson and pegged him as an early second-rounder, so seeing the offensive lineman go 24th didn't bother me. I just wonder, with the Vikings entering the weekend with just four picks (they made five after scooping up an additional sixth-rounder), did they consider a move down? One slot later, Houston received two third-rounders -- one this year and one next -- to move down nine spots. . .The Lions, Packers and Bears all added pass catchers over the weekend, supplementing already-strong groups. That CB position is one that might be worth re-addressing as we get closer to camp. . ." The team's failure to address the secondary was really the boldest choice of all this past week in the NFL Draft. The team seems to be ready to put a lot of weight on returning Byron Murphy Jr. and the returning Harrison Smith. The team will also be giving a larger role to safeties Theo Jackson and Joshua Metellus after Camryn Bynum's departure and Smith's preparation to ride off into the sunset. The Vikings took some gambles with some stagnant moves this year in the draft, time will tell how they will play out.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings HC explains why drafting Donovan Jackson was a no-brainer for them
Vikings HC explains why drafting Donovan Jackson was a no-brainer for them The Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O'Connell have had a seamless relationship since he was hired by the team in 2022. Both he and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were hired in the same year, and they have helped the Vikings franchise take a big step into the next chapter in franchise history. One way they have built a strong connection is by working together on roster building, especially in the draft. While on the Kay Adams Show on Wednesday, O'Connell talked about their selection of Donovan Jackson. "We really felt good about honing in on certain types of players that fit with what we tough guys that will be great to me, jumped out through the process." The team made it a point this offseason to overhaul their offensive line during the 2025 offseason. They signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries while releasing former first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury. They, of course, then added Donovan Jackson to give their offensive line, and now they can move a carnival cruise liner if they want, let alone a defensive lineman. Kevin O'Connell has clearly had an idea in mind for his offensive line, and Jackson was the last piece to complete it.
