Austin Jackson – OT (USC)
Heading into the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Austin Jackson was seen as a late first-round to an early second-round type of player. His workout at the Combine changed that for the better.
Jackson is now a lock to go in the first round and one of the favorites to be the Vikings’ top selection with the 25th overall pick.
Jackson first impressed with his measurables. He weighed in at 322 pounds with a height of 6-foot-5. His arm size was a nice 34 and 1/8 inches, which is plenty long for a potential NFL left tackle. Jackson also showed plenty of power in the bench press, putting up 225 pounds 27 times.
What really stood out about Jackson at the Combine was just his overall athletic ability. He was out of his stance quickly and looked smooth moving backward and side-to-side. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 5.07 seconds, so he’s got plenty of quickness to get down the field or pull and lead plays to the outside.
With Riley Reiff approaching the end of his career, Minnesota could look to find his successor in this year’s draft. Jackson has the tape and now the workout to show the Vikings that he is worth the 25th pick in the first round and he could be an asset to the team very early in his career.