Vikings Defender Earns Spot on All-Breakout Team
For Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson, it’s the offseason of dreams.
One recently promoted Vikings defender turns heads this week when he was included in an “All-Breakout Team.”
The relatively unknown defender, barring injury, will ascend the purple and gold depth chart in the next three months, likely culminating in a starter’s job for the first time in his career.
And that’s not a hot take — Pro Football Focus picked Jackson this week for its “All-Breakout Team.”
Safety Theo Jackson Gets the Nod for PFF’s “All-Breakout Team”
PFF’s Bradley Locker assembled an entire NFL team based on players who might break out into stardom this season, and the Vikings weren’t excluded.
At safety, Locker named-dropped Jackson and detailed, “The Vikings concentrated the majority of their 2025 capital in their offensive and defensive lines, but safety is a position worth keeping an eye on this season. Jackson is poised to help ease those concerns.”
“On only 79 defensive snaps last season, Jackson shined with a 79.2 overall PFF grade and a stringent 77.1 PFF coverage grade. In his three years with the Vikings, the former sixth-round pick has only played 222 total defensive snaps but has finished above a 69.0 PFF coverage grade in every season.”
The Tennessee Titans drafted Jackson in Round 6 three years ago, only to waive him four months later. The Vikings pounced, and the rest is history.
Locker added, “With Camryn Bynum no longer in Minnesota, the Vikings didn’t sign or draft someone to directly replace him. That leaves Jackson the next man up alongside Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus to play an important role in Brian Flores’ unique defense.”
“After all, three Vikings safeties exceeded 1,000 snaps last season, which means Jackson very well may become a significant contributor for Flores.”
PFF’s Criteria
Just what in the hell’s a breakout player? Locker provided that criteria, too: “With OTAs having just wrapped up and mandatory minicamps now underway, the late portion of the spring offers coaches, fans and analysts alike one final glimpse at every team before the NFL’s unofficial vacation period. Anticipation will only build until late July, especially for prized up-and-comers.”
“As rosters are now generally finalized, lanes for younger players to emerge have opened up in full. Below is a team of projected breakout stars for 2025, structured like a traditional NFL lineup.”
At safety, per PFF’s estimation, that guy is Jackson.
One Big Chance at a Starter’s Job
This is Jackson’s moment. It must’ve been awfully disheartening to be cut by the Titans several weeks after entering the NFL. Thankfully, Minnesota seized his services soon after, but the man was stuck on a crowded safety depth chart.
Three seasons later, Jackson is poised to break out — PFF’s lingo — and he has one big chance at remaining a consistent starter in the big leagues.
For him personally, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Elite Company
Along the way, Jackson has observed some prominent personalities at his position.
Harrison Smith should be inducted into the Hall of Fame down the road if voters aren’t silly. He and Jackson have worked together for three seasons, and Smith has sung Jackson’s praises. Josh Metellus, another Vikings safety, is a jack of all trades. And Camryn Bynum brought sizzle and fun to Minnesota’s secondary.
Mainly because of Smith, Jackson has encountered “good teachin’.”
Void Left by Camryn Bynum’s Departure
How’d Jackson get there this offseason? Easy — the aforementioned Bynum did not re-up with the Vikings, instead setting sail on free agency and choosing the Indianapolis Colts, a team that handed him a contract worth $60 million over the next four years.
Minnesota, in theory, could’ve drafted Malaki Starks from Georgia or Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina, or even signed a free agent like Jevon Holland or Talanoa Hufanga, but it did not.
The team promoted Jackson, and here he’s now earning preseason accolades on PFF lists.
Caleb Williams Gets the Nod, Too
For better or worse, quarterback Caleb Williams from the Vikings’ rival, the Chicago Bears, led the PFF breakout team at quarterback.
Locker wrote, “It’s hard not to get extremely excited about the crop of second-year quarterbacks in 2025, disregarding even Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. Among the compelling gunslingers who have yet to fully prove themselves, Williams seems like the best bet to put everything together this season.”
“Although the former No. 1 overall pick posted only a 67.6 overall PFF grade and a 63.5 PFF passing grade, Williams flashed his potential by churning out three games with at least an 83.0 overall PFF grade. Moreover, his 3.9% big-time throw rate was the best among rookie QBs to record at least 115 dropbacks.”
Jackson and the Vikings actually take on Williams’ Bears in Week 1 at Soldier Field.
Locker concluded, “Williams certainly has areas to improve, including sack avoidance (league-high 17 sacks attributed to him) and negative plays (nineth percentile in avoiding such plays).”
“But after adding Ben Johnson as his play caller and general manager Ryan Poles significantly upgrading Chicago’s offense with Joe Thuney (80.0 overall PFF grade), Drew Dalman (78.8 overall PFF grade), Colston Loveland (90.6 PFF receiving grade) and Luther Burden III (80.2 PFF receiving grade), Williams has everything at his disposal to excel this year.”
Maybe Jackson will intercept a Williams pass on that Monday night, bringing the All-Breakout Team full circle.
Surprise Rocks Vikings Minicamp
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