Never mind that the Vikings entered the 2025 NFL Draft with fewer picks than any other team. When they were finally on the clock with the No. 24 pick, they simply couldn’t pass on Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson.
The decision to select Jackson falls in line with exactly how the Vikings have approached this offseason.
After getting destroyed by the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, the Vikings committed to building out the trenches on both sides of the ball in free agency, then continued that trend by taking Jackson in the draft.
Presumably, Jackson will immediately slot in at left guard, sandwiched between Christian Darrisaw at left tackle and newly signed Ryan Kelly at center. The opposite side of the offensive line will feature another new signee in Will Fries at right guard and Brian O’Neill at right tackle.
Though many expected the Vikings to trade down to garner more picks, there might have been some urgency to take Jackson where they did after watching Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker get taken by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 and North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel going to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 18.
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