The Minnesota Vikings had Donovan Jackson on their radar last year when he considered the NFL design of 2024 before I chose to return to Ohio State for his senior season.
The interest in the 6-foot-4, 315 pound left guard was further aroused during Jackson’s contribution to the Buckeyes on the way to the national championship, and not just for history and performance.
An injury to the left Tackle is made to need Jackson to shift, but head coach Ryan Day left the decision to him. Playing an unnatural position immediately, finally the risk of devaling his draft stock. But Jackson embraced the switch and appreciated the greater good in relation to his individual professional development with a team-first atitude who solidifies the faith of Minnesota in him as a pick in the first round.
The Vikings took Jackson on Thursday with the 24th general selection, in which they ignored opportunities to go down and to add to their pick -for the certain connection of him as the last part of their revision outside the season of the interior of the attacking 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 that ‘selfless’ is a word that we all like to say about ourselves, but self-in-action-you talk about everyone who is on the line for his personal future,” said Vikings managing director Kwesi-Adofo Mensah. “What he did for his team, and it results in National Championship Run, subject to be proud of as a player and sumthing that we are proud of to bring this organization.”
That kind of mindset has been a priority for the Vikings under Adoof-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, who arrived three years ago. Culture has an easy -to -use business fashion word, but it can affect the success. Their 14-win season in 2024 was clearly helped by the strong chemistry that helped the Front Office and Coaching Staff through their deliberate process of evaluation players. The key is of course to add them without sacrificing talent.
The way Jackson performed on Tackle, with the third general choice in this design, made Penn State Edge Rusher Abdul Carter clear in his first start that he could play at a high level.
“That was a bit exciting for me to see that and to be as:” Yes, that was the kind of athlete that I really believed was under the hood, “said Adofo-Menah.” We are enthusiastic about the player we drop. “
Jackson has an important picture of his position switch, which came up with sub-bonus experience that should help him with his NFL transition.
“I have just been busy helping the team to win more than anything,” said Jackson. “It doesn’t matter what my goals are, as long as the team wins and my goals are set, but what I have learned is exactly how you can block different types of rushes. You go a bit against a man who is a bit of a different body type.”
Felton presents a quick option at a Broad Receiver and in special teams
The Vikings no longer chose after Jackson to no. 102, a late place in the third round on Friday, down in an exchange with Houston, but they found a valuable department with Maryland wide recipient Tai Felton. He led the BIG with 96 catches and 1,124 assessment yards last season and placed the sixth best 40-yard dash-time (4.37 seconds) under broad reventive at the NFL Scouting Combine. His vertical jump (39.5 inch) bound for fourth place.
“Let me put the ball in my hands,” Felton said. “I’m going to miss the defenders, and my intention is to score.”
He will probably also get a long look like a point and kick-off.
“You could feel the speed of this player on film,” said Senior Vice President of player Ryan Grigson. “He will be uble to do many things for us in this violation.”
Fresh from the factory of the line of defense
Georgia defensive T1rion Ingram-Dawkins was the first player to choose the Vikings on Saturday and turned into a talent-rich program that should stabilize the flow of NFL-ready prospects in recent years, including on the defensive front.
Ingram-Dawkins is more of a late bloomer that became a starter as a senior for the bulldogs, still raw but with an explosive first step of the line and a keen ability to change direction. He will be Uble to grow behind veterans Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave and Harrison Phillips in a position group that is strengthened by the means of all and Hargrave in the free desk.
“I just try to learn the ropes of them and hopefully to get a shot soon,” he said. “I’m just waiting for my chance.”
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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