It took Donovan Jackson one game to show the Vikings he’s already elite

There were Minnesota Vikings fans who wanted to get a safety or cornerback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, the team selected Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson.

Well, that is turning out to be the massive steal of the draft so far.

Jackson made his debut with the Vikings in their 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday as he showcased why he was their first pick. FanSided's Ryan Fowler shared some of the in-depth numbers from Jackson's first NFL game, and it's a lot of zeros that fans want to see.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson had a pass block grade of 88.1, the highest of any rookie in the NFL in Week 1. He was also second in overall grade among the rookies with a 74.3.

How Donovan Jackson was able to dominate for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1

Jackson showed off his football IQ and his pure strength in such a way that is rarely seen in a rookie lineman. There were several instances where he was able to demonstrate his abilities on the field.

The challenge Jackson had was shutting down the Bears' defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. throughout the whole game. He certainly did that in pass protection. Jarrett was his most common foe, and Jackson more often than not stood him up on the line.

He was just as good on screen passes, as Jackson showed off his athleticism and speed by getting out in the open field to open up the necessary lanes for his running back, Aaron Jones. Jackson was able to successfully sprun Jones out on a good gain after getting up to the second level to Noah Sewell and blocking him.

Jackson's pass blocking was elite, and the Bears had trouble getting past him, whether it was Jarrett, Dexter, or any of the other tackles on the Bears. It may be just one game, but Jackson has more than proven that he can be an elite guard and a potential left tackle of the future.