The Minnesota Vikings had Donovan Jackson on their radar last year that was considering the NFL 2024 draft, before choosing to return to Ohio State for their senior season.
His interest in the 6 -foot 4 -inch left guard and 315 pounds was further turning Jackson’s contribution to the Buckeyes on his way to the National Championship, and not only for his ability and performance.
An injury to the left Tackle created the need for Jackson to slide, but Chief coach Ryan Day left the decision for him. Playing an unnatural position on the fly, after all, represented the risk of devaluing its draft stock. But Jackson embraced change, valuing the greater good of its individual professional development with an attitude of first team that solidified Minnesota’s faith in him as a first round selection.
The Vikings took Jackson with the 24th General Selection on Thors Day, ignoring the opportunities to move down and add to its total selection for the certainty of plugging it as the last piece of its low season review of the interior of the offensive line.
[MORE: 2025 NFL Draft: Ohio State has 14 players taken, leads all schools in first-rounders]
“We say the word ‘selfless’, and I think ‘selfless’ is a word that we are all like saying about ourselves, but selfless in the action you are talking about everything at stake for your personal future,” said the general manager of the Vikings, Kwesi-Atofo Menah. “What he did for his team, and resulted in a national championship race, is something that should be proud as a player and something that we are proud to contribute to this organization.”
That kind of mentality has been a priority for the Vikings under adoof-mensah and chief coach Kevin O’Connell, who arrived three years ago. Culture has become an easy -to -use corporate fashion word, but can affect success. His 14 -win season in 2024, clearly helped by the strong chemistry that the main office and the coaching staff helped acquire their intentional process to evaluate the players. The key, of course, is to add them without talent of sacrificing.
The way Jackson acted in the Tackle, facing the third general selection in this draft, the Penn State corridor, Abdul Carter, in his first beginning, made obvious that he could play at a high level.
“That was a son of exciting for me to see and say:” Yes, that was the son of the athlete who really believed he was under the hood, “said Adafo-Menah.” We are excited about the palette of the player we got. “
Jackson has a practical vision of his position change, which comes with a bonus experience that should help him with his NFL transition.
“I just wanted to help the team win more than anything else,” Jackson said. “It doesn’t matter what my goals are, as long as the team wins and my goals are left aside, but what I learned from that is how to block different types of runners. When you are a guard, why
Felton presents a quick option in the open receiver and in special equipment
The Vikings did not choose again after Jackson until number 102, a late place in the third round of Friday after moving in an exchange with Houston, but found a valuable depth with the open receiver of Maryland Tai Felton. He led the Big Ten with 96 trapped and 1,124 reception yards last season and recorded the sixth best race time of 40 yards (4.37 seconds) between open receptors in the NFL exploration combination. His vertical jump (39.5 inches) tied for the room.
“Let me put the ball in my hands,” Felton said. “I’m going to miss the defenders, and my intention is to score.”
It is also likely to have a long appearance as a point and return of output kick.
“You could feel the speed of this player in the film,” said the senior vice president of players personnel Ryan Grigson. “He can do many things for us in this offense.”
Just out of the defensive line factory
Georgia’s defensive Tackle, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, was the first player that the Vikings chose on Saturday, resorting to a talent rich program that has supplied a constant flow of perspectives ready for NF in recent years, included in the defensive front.
Ingram-Dawkins is more a late flower that became a headline as senior for bulldogs, still raw but with an explosive first step of the line and a great ability to change direction. You can grow behind veterans Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave and Harrison Phillips in a reinforced position group by the signings of Allen and Hargrave in free agency.
“I only try to learn their strings and, hopefully, to get a son of shot,” he said. “I will only be waiting for my chance.”
Associated Press reports.
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