Bleacher Report Predicts Odd Role for Vikings Rookie
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in the first round a few months ago, marking the final offseason step in completing a total overhaul of their interior offensive line.
Bleacher Report turned heads by projecting an unexpected training camp battle for Vikings rookie Donovan Jackson. But is that actually true?
And based on spring and summer momentum, it sure sounds like Jackson will start out of the gate at left guard. But according to Bleacher Report, Jackson is merely competing for a starter’s job.
He’ll evidently have to win the gig.
Donovan Jackson = Roster Battle Participant, Says Bleacher Report
Blake Brandel isn’t mailing it in just yet.
It’s Evidently a ‘Summer Camp Battle’ for Donovan Jackson
BR’s Matt Holder projected roles for each Round 1 rookie this week, and for Jackson, it’s apparently a roster battle.
Holder explained, “Initial Role: Compete for starting LG. The Vikings will likely have three new starting interior offensive linemen this season, with Jackson occupying one of those spots.”
“However, he’ll have to beat out last year’s starting left guard, Blake Brandel, in training camp. That’s a battle the Ohio State product should win, but he won’t be handed the job and has to earn it.”
Others, like safety Malaki Starks for the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie DT Derrick Harmon, were already penciled in as starters by Holder. So, it’s not like Jackson had reached Holder’s ceiling.
Momentum Says Otherwise
While it would be “okay” if Jackson weren’t ready — stranger things have happened — all commentary from Vikings coaches and management since late April has indicated that Jackson is trending to start.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told Kay Adams in May, “Yeah, I think that draft pick was really — ultimate teams in this league, as they build their offseason plan, the teams that can pair free agency and the draft together, so that when the draft comes around, you can take the best player available. Take the player that can have a clean path to a significant role with your team.”
Clean path to a significant role with your team … sounds like a starter sooner rather than later.
Would-Be Showdown with Blake Brandel
If Vikings fans and this website have it wrong, well, Jackson would duel Blake Brandel, last year’s starter, for the LG job in 2025.
Brandel performed decently in 2024, especially when Christian Darrisaw played next to him for the first seven weeks, but didn’t set the world on fire enough to stave off the Jackson draft pick.
Another team could probably start Brandel and call it good, but for a Minnesota team cracking open a Super Bowl contender solution, half-measured solutions aren’t ideal.
Verdict Not Far Away
The cool part? A verdict for Jackson — maybe Brandel? — isn’t far away. Training camp is about two weeks around the bend, and three preseason games follow.
Suppose Holder is accurate about an honest-to-goodness left guard battle. That will unfold in July and August, and an initial depth chart will be circulated in about four weeks.
We’re close.
Other NFC North Rookie Forecasts
Holder wrote about Green Bay Packers rookie wideout Matthew Golden, “Initial Role: Compete for starting job. While the Packers need a WR1, the offense does have a collection of young wideouts who have been productive recently with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks returning from last season.”
“Granted, Watson is expected to begin training camp on the PUP list. So, Golden might be expected to crack the starting lineup as a rookie, but he’ll have plenty of competition and will have to prove himself in training camp.”
And on Colston Loveland with the Chicago Bears: “Initial Role: Second TE. The Bears already have an established tight end in Cole Kmet, who has nearly 2,600 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in five seasons. Plus, Loveland is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, so the Bears would be smart to ease the rookie into the rotation.”
“That said, Ben Johnson is expected to lean heavily on 12 personnel with Kmet and Loveland in the fold, so the Michigan product will still have a role in the offense this fall.”
Loveland will face Jackson and the Vikings when the regular season kicks off in 59 days.
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