Vikings Rookie Already on Track to Start
It’s Donovan Jackson’s hype season, and ESPN did little to slow down the momentum last week.
One Vikings rookie from the 2025 draft class is already on his way to start — a nice change of pace for the purple team.
The sports media giant provided 1st-Round rookie updates from all NFL minicamps, and the outlook for Jackson was rather pristine.
Jackson is on track to start for the 2025 Vikings.
Vikings Rookie Could Be a Week 1 Starter
It’s time to dream big for Donovan Jackson’s immediate upside.
ESPN Paints Starter’s Forecast for Donovan Jackson
Before the ESPN publication, Jackson was already trending to start. Kevin Seifert merely sweetened the pot.
He explained, “It’s difficult for an offensive lineman to stand out in no-contact practices, so the most important development for Jackson is that he worked with the first team at left guard for the majority of spring practices. Part of that can be attributed to right guard Will Fries’ ongoing recovery from a fractured right leg.”
“Blake Brandel, last season’s starter at left guard and Jackson’s primary competition at that position, has filled in for Fries on the right side. But there is every reason to believe Jackson has the inside track to emerge from training camp.”
Inside track is the path. Jackson is on his way. Kevin O’Connell has spoken glowingly of Jackson since the draft.
Three Guards Jettisoned by Vikings This Offseason
The Vikings totally reformed their offensive guard operations this offseason. Foremost, they traded Ed Ingram to the Houston Texans for a 6th-Round pick, which Minnesota immediately flipped to the San Francisco 49ers for running back Jordan Mason. Ingram is gone.
Then, Minnesota seemingly demoted the aforementioned Brandel with the Jackson pick, even if Brandel played decently last year, his first season as a full-time starter.
Then, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not re-signed Dalton Risner, who spent 2023 and 2024 with the club and wound up starting in both campaigns.
Out with the old (Ingram, Brandel, Risner); in with the new (Jackson).
Much-Needed Change of Pace for Vikings 1st-Rounders
Listen, Adofo-Mensah must hit on Jackson. His 2022 draft class turned out disastrously, swinging and missing on safety Lewis Cine in Round 1 and cornerback Andrew Booth in Round 2 — along with Ingram.
The young executive redeemed himself with the Jordan Addison pick the following year, and verdicts are still out on quarterback J.J. McCarthy and outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
McCarthy and Turner will likely be productive, but the Vikings must hit on Jackson, too, especially after misfiring on Ed Ingram in 2022.
The Offensive Line — Forecasted
Here’s the theorized Vikings offensive line, with training camp four weeks away:
—— Christian Darrisaw (LT)
—— Donovan Jackson (LG)
—— Ryan Kelly (C)
—— Will Fries (RG)
—— Brian O’Neill (RT)
Yes, that’s Minnesota’s best offensive line, on paper, in years, if not decades.
1st-Round Forecasts for Packers, Lions, Bears
On Packers rookie wideout Matthew Golden, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote, “It didn’t take long for Golden to catch Jordan Love’s eye. The quarterback was immediately impressed with just about everything he has seen from Golden. With Christian Watson still rehabbing from ACL surgery, Golden has gotten plenty of run with the starters.”
“If he’s not an immediate starter, he appears set for a significant role along with the likes of Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.”
For the Lions and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, Eric Woodyard opined, “Williams was a limited participant throughout the offseason program as the team was being cautious about his health after coming off a long championship college season. Williams says he has felt great vibes from the team. He could play a big role right away as he’s expected to fill in for starting defensive tackle Alim McNeill as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season.”
Finally, Courtney Cronin on Bears tight end Colston Loveland: “Loveland wasn’t on the field this spring while recovering from AC joint reconstruction in his right shoulder, but he made an appearance in uniform on the final day of mandatory minicamp.”
“Coach Ben Johnson said that the Bears should get the green light for the rookie to participate in practice at ‘some point’ in training camp, which coincides with the six-month recovery timeline Loveland said doctors gave him when he underwent surgery in January.”
Compared to NFC North peers, the Vikings are in good shape per immediate 1st-Round trajectory.
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