Vikings Add Big Strength Up Front In 2025 NFL Draft Round 1

With the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings made a move that probably will not have fans screaming in the streets. It might be exactly what they needed. They picked Donovan Jackson, an offensive lineman from Ohio State who is not flashy, loud, or a skilled player. But he is tough, smart, and dependable. This is the kind of pick that helps you win games in December. Will this pick work out for the Vikings?

A No-Nonsense Grinder From a Big-Time Program

Donovan Jackson did not spend his college career chasing headlines. He just lined up, played after play, and did his job. At Ohio State, he started at left guard but switched to left tackle when the team got hit by injuries. He did not complain. He did not make it about himself. He just went out there and handled business.

He is about six foot four and weighs around 320. He is built like a tank but moves smoother than you would think for a guy that size. He made First-Team All-Big Ten three times and was an All-American in his final season. Maybe the most impressive thing was helping  Ohio State win the National Championship in 2024 and never once looked rattled in the big moments.

This is not the kind of guy who pops up in highlight reels. But if you were to ask the quarterbacks and running backs he blocked for? They would probably say he saved their careers more than a few times.

Exactly What the Vikings Have Been Missing

The Vikings have been trying to get their offensive line figured out for what feels like forever. Sometimes it is penalties. Sometimes it is blown assignments. Sometimes it is just not having the right guys. Jackson gives them someone they can plug in and trust.

He is not going to try to do too much. He is not going to get pushed around. He is not going to be confused when things get loud in the fourth quarter. He plays with discipline. That is what the Vikings have been missing. Someone who is not going to fall apart when the pressure is on. Also, he is coachable. That might not sound exciting, but when you are building a unit as tight-knit as an offensive line, it matters a bunch.

The Kind Of Guy You Want in the Locker Room

You can measure hand size, 40-yard dash times, and bench press reps all day, but some things do not show up at the combine. One of those things is character. Donovan Jackson has it. He is the type of guy who picks up teammates when they are dragging. When things go sideways, and they always do in football, Jackson does not panic. He resets, focuses, and goes again.

In a league where egos can get in the way, drama can derail a season fast. Having someone who keeps it grounded is a quiet luxury. The Vikings did not just draft a lineman. They drafted someone who makes the locker room better by being in it. That matters more than most people realize.

Not a Flashy Pick, But It Might Be a Steal

Let us be honest. Nobody’s buying a Donovan Jackson jersey. There will not be a ton of reaction videos from fans screaming about how this pick changed the franchise. But here is the thing it just might.

Jackson is the type of player you look back on five years from now and say, “Man, that was the smartest move we made.” He brings stability. He brings leadership. He is not here for fame. He is here to win. And if the Vikings are serious about turning this thing around, picking a guy like Donovan Jackson is a good place to start.