The Minnesota Vikings used their first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson at No. 24 overall on Thursday. While that move wasn't surprising considering the team prioritized overhauling the line's interior this offseason, many fans expected the purple and gold to target a defensive back in that spot or trade down for more picks.
So far, the response to Jackson's selection has been mostly positive. There is a lot to like about the Vikings giving more protection to young quarterback J.J. McCarthy and wanting to open bigger holes in the rushing attack for Aaron Jones.
There is one familiar individual to Minnesota who has been raving about Jackson before the Vikings even drafted him, and it is someone who knows quite a bit about offensive lines.
Former Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice is a big fan of Donovan Jackson
Although he played left tackle and left guard in college, Jackson is expected to fit in between left tackle Christian Darrisaw and center Ryan Kelly to complete what should be a formitable unit in 2025.
Before this year's NFL Draft, former Vikings head coach Mike Tice and his son, Yahoo NFL analyst Nate Tice, talked about Jackson on the "Football 301" podcast. During the conversation, the former NFL offensive line coach, offensive coordinator, and head coach had great things to say about the Ohio State lineman.
Tice called Jackson a "can't go wrong player" and said that he's "gonna be a good player in the league for quite a while." To hear that from someone who spent a lot of his life working with offensive linemen, that should mean a lot.
Nate Tice agrees and adds that he was impressed with his movement in space and loves everything he brings to the table. Both had high marks for him, stating that he is more pro-ready than other prospects in this draft.
Jackson has earned this praise. He played 51 games at Ohio State and boasts excellent size and unexpected athleticism for an offensive lineman. Although his skills showed up better on tape when he was playing left tackle, that still applies to his role at left guard with the Vikings.
Of course, time will tell how things work out for Jackson with Minnesota. There have been plenty of occasions in the past where a prospect looked amazing but didn't translate to the NFL. However, all the positivity surrounding this pick is a good sign that Jackson could be the real deal.