Donovan Jackson’s Main Offseason Takeaway Is Pretty Sweet

The Vikings surprised some folks when they ignored the defense with their only pick in the top 100 and instead poured even more resources into the offensive line after previously hiring Will Fries and Ryan Kelly to bolster the blocking crew. The club also refused to swap picks, viewing the Ohio State guard as too valuable to pass on.

Donovan Jackson’s Offseason

With the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings added Donovan Jackson, guard, Ohio State. That’s pretty much what Roger Goodell said when he announced that the Vikes have acquired a third high-profile interior blocker within seven weeks.

The expectations were obvious seconds after the pick: Jackson is supposed to complete the interior trio and become a long-time starter for the franchise. Sure, finding a starter for years to come is the goal of any first-rounder, but even more so when the rookie is an offensive guard.

His situation for Week 1 is pretty straightforward: Either he’s playing or last year’s starting left guard, Blake Brandel, is.

Of course, it is hard to evaluate an offensive lineman in shorts in June’s practices, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert didn’t even try. But he still has a decent takeaway that shows us the decision-makers’ mentality.

Seifert wrote, “It’s difficult for an offensive lineman to stand out in no-contact practices, so the most important development for Jackson is that he worked with the first team at left guard for the majority of spring practices. Part of that can be attributed to right guard Will Fries’ ongoing recovery from a fractured right leg. Blake Brandel, last season’s starter at left guard and Jackson’s primary competition at that position, has filled in for Fries on the right side. But there is every reason to believe Jackson has the inside track to emerge from training camp.”

The Vikings seemingly train Brandel at right guard while Jackson immediately got first-team reps, and we avoid any rep-counting. Brandel is obviously planned to be the top interior backup who’s subbing in whenever Jackson or Fries can’t go, regardless of whether that is on new center Kelly’s right or left side.

Shortly after the draft, O’Connell addressed the media and revealed his dream offensive line: “Envisioning [Jackson] being on a front with potentially Ryan Kelly and Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries and Brian O’Neill. That’s a pretty formidable group on paper. We’ve got to make it come to life on the grass.”

Currently, the Vikings are still a couple of men short. Fries suffered a broken leg in Week 5 of last year’s season. It’s still too early to be concerned about his status for Week 1. If he doesn’t step onto the practice field when training camp begins next month, that could change.

Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL in Week 8. He recently returned to practice for some drills, but there will also be more clarity in training camp. Going full speed and participating in contact drills in July and August reveals his potential availability in the season opener. If he isn’t ready, free-agent addition Justin Skule is expected to take his spot.

The last time the Vikings drafted a guard in the first round was in 1988 when they selected Randall McDaniel, a Hall of Famer. McDaniel was asked about what he likes most about the newest Viking: “[Ohio State] was known for running that ball. I liked that. I like the way he gets after it. He finishes his blocks and initiates it. I’m an old-school lineman; anytime I get to see a young kid run blocking, I get excited.”

The legendary guard offered to mentor his successor.

Long story short: All signs point towards Jackson as Minnesota’s starting left guard in September, and the fact that the Vikings already trust him at left guard instead of doing the usual “let’s bury the rookie on the depth chart and let him fight his way up” shenanigans is encouraging.