One Young Viking Is Starting to Look like the Real Deal
Seven months ago, needing a cornerback, safety, offensive line help, or possibly a running back, the Minnesota Vikings drafted guard Donovan Jackson from Ohio State University. Fast forward to November, and the rookie is turning the corner into what a long-term starter looks like through the early stages of his career.
One young Vikings player is starting to look like the real deal, giving the offense a needed spark as the team searches for steady production.
Jackson, of course, is not a Pro Bowler yet, but the signs are there. The man is gradually becoming the real deal.
Vikings Rookie Donovan Jackson Continues to Grow and Thrive
Minnesota’s draft habits are improving on the fly.
Jackson Turns in Season-Best Performance
Playing against the Chicago Bears last weekend, Jackson allowed no sacks and no pressures on any of J.J. McCarthy’s 33 dropbacks. Usually, a rookie should be jotted down for at least a few pressures; it’s just the nature of the beast.
But not Jackson, not on Sunday.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis also noted, “Thought, after watching the film, that Vikings rookie G Donovan Jackson had his best game as a pro against the Bears. Elite. Moving guys in the run. Anchoring one-on-one. Picking up stunts.”
The Numbers to Date
Jackson’s Pro Football Focus grade has climbed steadily as a rookie — exactly what one wants to see from a youngster.
Here’s the PFF take of the tape:
Overall Grade: 62.0
Pass Blocking: 68.2
Run Blocking: 59.6
And overall grade by week:
Week 1: 74.3
Week 2: 44.4
Week 3: 55.3
Week 7: 53.1
Week 8: 55.1
Week 9: 67.4
Week 10: 64.4
Week 11: 73.7
Jackson now notably ranks as the NFL’s 21st-best pass-protecting guard through 11 weeks, impressive for a rookie and boding well for the future.
A Long, Long Guard Drought in Minnesota
This performance is long overdue. Vikings fans used to make memes about guard play, begging the team to find competent versions that didn’t seem to exist.
The franchise put fans through the wringer with guards from approximately 2018 through 2023. Every Sunday, Minnesota’s guards would be dominated by the interior of the opponent’s defensive line, or so it seemed. It’s why fans didn’t express disappointment in the Jackson pick last April. Often, guards can be drafted in later rounds, with the selection turning out just fine.
But the Vikings put their foot down and drafted one of the top guards from the 2025 class, and the decision is paying off through 60% of the 2025 campaign.
The Rest of the Offense Now Needs to Sync
Now, the rest of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense must follow the offensive line’s lead.
Minnesota battled oodles of OL injuries to start the season, but the group has stabilized and could be at full health this weekend against the Green Bay Packers for the first time since 2024.
Another 1st-Round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, has not played well in his first season as a starter, curiously only delivering on the game’s final offensive drive. The Vikings also don’t like to run the ball at a normal NFL rate.
Soon, McCarthy must capitalize on the top-tier offensive line performance, the coach must run the ball, and perhaps Minnesota can cook with gas on offense. It has not done so to date this season.
Other Jackson Takes
VikingsWire‘s Andrew Harbaugh wrote about the rookie this week: “Guard Donovan Jackson has looked like a homerun selection for the Vikings through the early parts of the season. He was impressive in the first two weeks before injury hit him and derailed his momentum. He returned in Week 7 after the team’s Bye Week, and he looked like he picked up right where he left off in the weeks since.”
“To get some added context on his overall performance from a Week 11 where he gutted it out, we can turn to Pro Football Focus for that. They compiled the best players and grades from the past week, and Donovan Jackson made the cut for their Week 11 honors team.”
Our Janik Eckardt on the rookie: “Jackson was considered a relatively pro-ready player, and the Vikings agreed, as they just handed him the starting spot in the summer. They didn’t entertain any competition shenanigans. Just a couple of weeks ago, his performance against the Detroit Lions (who actually have an excellent defensive line) earned him some more praise.”
“With only five players selected, the 2025 draft class was never going to be a huge game-changer for the franchise. It was important to nail the first-round pick, though. So far, it looks like GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done that.”
Minnesota could be on deck for an era of offensive line majesty. Fans have asked for that since the days of Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie.
Against the Packers on Sunday, the Vikings face a daunting 6.5-point underdog spread.
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