As soon as rookie offensive guard Donovan Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, he started hearing his name in the same sentence as legendary offensive guard Randall McDaniel. It makes sense.
It’s been nearly 40 years since the Vikings have invested such premium draft capital into the interior of the offensive line.
The selection of Jackson marked the first time the Vikings have used a first-round pick on an offensive guard since they selected McDaniel in the first round of the the 1988 NFL Draft.
“I will get out there at some point and make the official greeting,” McDaniel said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Here’s an excerpt of our chat with McDaniel.
Q: What are your first impressions of Donovan from afar?
A: I definitely like what I’m hearing. The things that he’s been saying are all great. Just a typical offensive lineman. He does all the right things. Just watching him play at Ohio State, loved him moving out to tackle help the team out. That’s what offensive linemen do.
Q: How hard is that to do? It seems like it’s more difficult than people think.
A: It all happens so quickly inside. You can work with the center or the tackle. You’re on an island sliding outside. The technique completely changes up. You have to stop and think. That’s the hard part. You’re used to reacting quickly, so when things change, there’s a hesitation for a brief moment. You’ve got to make sure the technique is sound in order to combat that.
It’s all about the group. That’s how we operate. We’re not worried about ourselves. We’re going to bring our lunch pails to work and get our job done. That’s what I love to see, just that he was willing to step out and get the job done.
Q: What else stands out about his play style watching him on film?
A: They were 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. I love that he made that switch and stepped up and played some tackle when they had some injuries. He did the job. That’s always good to see. You have to be willing to do things to help the team win.
Q: How much has the game changed since you were playing?
A: It’s a lot different. These guys are a lot bigger. There’s a lot more passing. You would think with the size of these guys that they would be running the ball more (but) it’s all about passing. That’s how it’s supposed to be. When I came out, the guys that played before me would say, “You guys don’t play like we do.” I would be like, “It’s a different game now.” It’s the same thing now. I would be too small. That’s part of the game. It’s exciting. It’s fun to watch the young kids come up and see the things that they can do. It’s their time and I enjoy watching them play.
Q: Would you be willing to be an ear for Donovan? All offensive linemen have to stick together right?
A: “When I first came into the NFL, I had some of the older offensive linemen kind of show me the ropes. It was great being able to pick their brains. I will offer that up to him. If that’s something he’s interested in, I’m more than willing to do that.
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