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Donovan Jackson’s NFL draft profile (0:41)
Check out some of the top highlights from Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson. (0:41)
EAGAN, Minn. — The 2025 NFL draft (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) is underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Minnesota Vikings selected Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 pick of Round 1.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 24: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
My take: Rarely do you see an NFL team take such a single-minded approach, not to mention devote this level of resources, to fix a personnel problem as the Vikings have this offseason for their interior offensive line. They used their first-round pick to draft Jackson, turning down multiple offers to trade down and accumulate more selections in what at the moment is a four-pick draft for them, and will soon plug him in at left guard. That came one month after they committed $106 million in free agency for new center Ryan Kelly and new right guard Will Fries. Among other things, this approach demonstrates the influence coach Kevin O’Connell now has in the organization. It was O’Connell, after all, who said this in the moments after his team gave up nine sacks and struggled to run the ball in their wild-card playoff loss to the Rams: “There’s no question we’ve got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket.”
Will he start as a rookie: Incumbent left guard Blake Brandel remains on the roster, and O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the Vikings will host a competition to ensure their best five offensive linemen are on the field when the season begins. But there seems to be little doubt that Jackson, barring injury, will be a starter at some point in his rookie season.
Said O’Connell Thursday: “The idea of Donovan walking into that O-line room that now has some pretty impactful players across the board there was something that was a goal, and I think tonight really put a stamp on a plan that we set out to accomplish.”
What we’re hearing: Jackson visited the team facility during the pre-draft process and watched film with O’Connell, during which they discussed Jackson’s move to left tackle during his final season at Ohio State. That move particularly impressed O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah, both of whom noted his first game at the position came against Penn State’s Abdul Carter, who was drafted No. 3 by the Giants.
“That can confirm a lot that you think about the player,” O’Connell said, “when you made the switch that he did. What was that like? Why did you do it? … And I think that’s validated in the player being in the kind of year, such an important year for him and to be willing to do that. And then I think a great thing about evaluating Donovan is you got to see him playing against some really good players — and not only just at guard, but when he made the move to tackle.”
What’s next: The Vikings have only three picks remaining at the moment, including only one (No. 97 overall) on Day 2. Adofo-Mensah said he was not particularly motivated to trade down or even out of Round 1 altogether to accumulate extra picks, and the Vikings will see if they can find a safety, running back and/or a cornerback over the next few days. Adofo-Mensah compared his approach to golf.
“I think approaching this draft from a mindset of, ‘Hey, let’s just, if the players hit the ball down the fairway, let’s do that.’ If it’s going to be four picks at four positions that we really want for character people, four skill sets we require, let’s go do that and we’ll figure everything else out. … Whatever the course is kind of asking us to hit, we’re going to get that club out of the bag and see what happens.”
Remaining picks
Round 3: No. 97 (compensatory pick)
Round 5: No. 139 (from Browns)
Round 6: No. 187 (from 49ers)
