Vikings Score Big with “Instant Impact Rookie”
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not recovered reputationally from his 2022 draft class.
Vikings Score Big with “Instant Impact Rookie”
The group stunk, and since then, folks have closely scrutinized his every move, even when the young executive has hit on players like Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace Jr.
But according to CBS Sports, Adofo-Mensah got it right in last month’s draft by selecting Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in Round 1.
Praise Showered on Donovan Jackson
CBS Sports‘ Chris Trapasso ranked 10 “instant impact rookies” around the NFL, and Jackson made the list for Minnesota at No. 10.
He explained, “All Jackson did at Ohio State was play 800-plus snaps in three consecutive seasons after entering the program as the No. 1 interior offensive line recruit in the country, per 247 Sports. Oh, and in 2024, he assumed full-time left tackle duties after Josh Simmons’ serious knee injury, and the Buckeyes offseason didn’t skip a beat on the way to the national title.”
“Now, Jackson is a guard and only a guard in the NFL. And he’ll squeeze in next to Christian Darrisaw and Ryan Kelly on the left side of the Vikings’ strapping offensive line.”
Many thought, almost for sure, that Adofo-Mensah would trade down from pick No. 24, mainly because he had just four picks entering the event. But the Vikings’ boss stood firm and chose Jackson to complete his offensive line overhaul.
Trapasso added, “This is about as pro-ready and athletic as a nearly 6-foot-4 and 320-pound guard comes out of the collegiate ranks. It’ll be much more challenging than others to notice, but Jackson will be incredibly instant impact in Minnesota.”
Vikings’ Rationale for Drafting Jackson
In September, Minnesota will set sail on the J.J. McCarthy era, its one big swing to try the “quarterback on a rookie deal” strategy commonly fancied around the NFL.
Four months ago, the Vikings flamed out of the postseason after losing to the Los Angeles Rams, a team that set an NFL playoff record by sacking quarterback Sam Dardold nine times. Minnesota could not afford an eventual sequel, so it invested heavily in the offensive line this offseason, drafting Jackson in Round 1, along with two keynote free-agent signings in Ryan Kelly (center) and Will Fries (guard).
The Vikings’ offensive line facelift is complete, and having Jackson as an instant impact rookie will assuredly help.
Brian O’Neill Touts Jackson’s Position Versatility
Jackson also provides position versatility, able to play offensive tackle in a pinch.
His new teammate, Brian O’Neill, comically opined on Jackson’s skill after Minnesota drafted him. O’Neill recently said, “It’s really hard to do that. I remember my third year, about a week after the first game, we weren’t sure if Riley Reiff was still going to be here, and they said, ‘Hey, if he’s not here, you’re playing left tackle.'”
“I was freaking out. I even played in college, and I was like, ‘This is not going to go well for anybody involved.’ So I have a ton of respect for somebody to be able to do that.”
Jackson’s position-bending proficiency could aid if injuries rattle O’Neill or Darrisaw.
First of His Kind for Vikings in Almost 40 Years
Before Jackson, the Vikings hadn’t drafted an offensive guard in Round 1 since 1988. Yes — 37 years. The drought lasted that long.
Meanwhile, for nearly a decade, Vikings fans yearned for a productive offensive guard or two, watching as the club always seemed to settle on a half-measured solution. The tendency was particularly prevalent during the Mike Zimmer administration.
Now, the madness is over, and from Round 1, Jackson has knocked guard woes out of the park, at least on paper, a couple of weeks after the draft.
Ashton Jeanty as CBS Sports’ Top Dog
Unrelated to Minnesota, Trapasso named Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty as the league’s top instant impact rookie.
He explained, “Jeanty is the clearest instant-impact rookie in this draft class as a No. 6 overall selection at the running back spot following the finest season we’ve seen on the ground in college football since Barry Sanders in 1988. Jeanty has deceptive long speed, quality elusiveness and the best contact balance I’ve ever scouted at the position.”
“And he not only finds himself as the written-in-Sharpie bell cow on a complete revamped Raiders offense, the Las Vegas blocking unit is an ascending group with 2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson fresh off a rock-solid rookie campaign at center and right guard Dylan Parham entering the prime of what’s been a very encouraging NFL career to date.”
The Vikings will see Jeanty for the first time in 2027.
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