Vikings End 37-Year Drought in Draft
The wait is over in two ways: the Minnesota Vikings revealed their much-anticipated draft selection on Thursday night, selecting an offensive guard in Round 1 for the first time in 37 years.
Vikings End 37-Year Drought in Draft
Donovan Jackson became the newest Viking with the 24th overall pick, filling out an offensive line that underwent an otherworldly transformation this offseason.
Jackson is the first Round 1 guard drafted by Minnesota since Randall McDaniel — in 1988.
Vikings Draft Offensive Guard Donovan Jackson
For three months, fans wondered which roster spot Minnesota might target in Round 1 after the team held onto its 1st-Round pick last year. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded most of his 2025 draft class last April for outside linebacker Dallas Turner, but retained the 1st-Rounder — for this moment.
His trenches are now fully fortified, and folks won’t wonder in 2025 if the offensive or defensive lines will hold up. They’re in phenomenal shape, perhaps the best since the 1990s or 2000s.
Scouting Report on Donovan Jackson
Jackson, 22, is 6’4″ and 320 pounds, eliminating the Vikings’ previous tendency of drafting “power forward” type guards. He’s huge. Garrett Bradbury and Ezra Cleveland, for example, were not.
The Buckeye also offers offensive line flexibility, able to play tackle if Minnesota needed, an interesting factoid as Christian Darrisaw heals from a torn ACL.
Generally speaking, though, Jackson is a guard for Minnesota’s purposes.
NFL Draft Buzz‘s K.C. Martinez on Jackson: “Jackson shows the makings of a capable NFL offensive lineman who could develop into a starter with proper coaching. His performance against elite competition — particularly that four-game championship stretch where he showed well in pass protection — demonstrates potential, though there’s still room for technical refinement. The positional flexibility he displayed stepping out to tackle during Ohio State’s title run adds intrigue to his evaluation.”
“Jackson projects best at guard in a system that can develop his natural tools. His experience in Ohio State’s diverse run scheme gives him foundation in both gap and zone concepts, while his proven ability to handle edge duties in a pinch offers roster flexibility. The raw materials are there — he flashes the leverage against power rushers and shows glimpses of the footwork needed to handle NFL-caliber defenders.”
Minnesota currently employs Blake Brandel at the left guard spot, but that changed on Thursday evening. It’s Jackson’s job to lose.
NFL.com Lance Zierlein compared Jackson to Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller and wrote: “Broad-framed three-year starter with core power and leg drive to hold the line of scrimmage or change it. He can stick and sustain in-line or on the second level and is a plus finisher. Jackson has the athleticism for all tasks as an outside-zone blocker.”
“He is also able to accelerate and lead the way on long pulls or counters. He leans against stunting/slanting fronts, and he can be tardy in opening his hips and activating his feet for recoveries. He’s long but punches with wider hands and struggles to consistently maintain his edges when mirroring. Overall, Jackson has the measurables, power and movement for any scheme as a starting guard.”
An Emphatic Exclamation Point to OL Improvement
Three months ago, Minnesota lost in the Wildcard Round of the postseason to the Los Angeles Rams, surrendering 9 sacks en route to a dubious NFL playoff record.
After the pitiful showing, head coach Kevin O’Connell vowed improvement, and over the next 13 weeks, his team signed free agents Ryan Kelly (center) and Will Fries (guard) from the Indianapolis Colts, two moves utterly celebrated by fans.
Then, on Thursday night, O’Connell’s boss, Adofo-Mensah, provided the chef’s kiss with Jackson.
The New-Look Offensive Line
These are the Vikings’ updated offensive trenches, which will be sure to spark excitement:
LT — Christian Darrisaw
LG — Donovan Jackson
C — Ryan Kelly
RG — Will Fries
RT — Brian O’Neill
Not bad, huh?
Trade-Down Speculation Was Wrong
Because Adofo-Mensah had just four picks entering the event — three, now — most believed he’d trade down, especially with the draftboard facing the Vikings at No. 24. That was the only prudent method to accrue more picks.
However, the young executive resisted the temptation and rolled with Jackson.
If the Vikings wish to make any picks before No. 97 on Friday night, they’ll have to dip into the 2026 draft basket or trade a high-profile player.
Minnesota has one other Ohio State alumnus on the current roster — cornerback Jeff Okudah.
Jackson will turn 23 in December.
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