Vikings Get Quality Playmaker in 2025 NFL Redraft
With the 24th selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson. Many predicted them to look toward the defensive interior line or the cornerback position. Instead, they looked to get younger and add some upside to the interior offensive line.
Jackson had a pretty mediocre rookie season judging by the PFF grading.
- 59.1 overall grade (45th/81 guards)
- 57.2 run blocking grade (50th)
- 65.7 pass blocking grade (26th)
Jackson provided some legitimate pass blocking upside. This is obviously preferred for KOC’s high-volume passing offense, and has been lacking in recent years within the interior offensive line. PFF also credits Jackson with 19 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and 2 QB sacks allowed over 468 pass blocking snaps. The Vikings will look for Donovan Jackson to continue to develop in his sophomore season, and he has a decent foundation to build upon.
Recently, Bleacher Report ran through a 2025 NFL first round redraft, tossing the real board out of the window, and using the class’s year-one play to reorganize the round. Cam Ward still went first overall to the Titans, but players like Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough both jumped all the way up to second and third overall respectively.
Vikings Pick Up TE Harold Fannin in 2025 NFL Re-Draft
Harold Fannin Jr. made a huge jump up the board here, rising all the way from the 67th overall pick in the third round to 24th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
Bleacher Report provided some insight into the revised selection.
“Fannin was a third-round steal by the Browns last year, making the leap from the MAC to the NFL with ease—he led the Browns in every major statistical receiving category last year, and his six touchdown grabs would have led the Vikings in 2025.
Forget T.J. Hockenson, who clearly isn’t the player he once was. Add Fannin to a passing attack that already includes Jauan Jennings, Jordan Addison and some guy named Justin Jefferson, and opposing defenses are going to have a problem.”
Fannin Jr. has been an absolute stud for the Cleveland Browns, just as this guy predicted. With this selection, the Vikings would have a long-term solution at the tight end position. T.J. Hockenson got a revision performed to his deal that will make the 2026 season his last in Minnesota. Next offseason, the position will likely be an area of focus heading into the 2027 season.
In this hypothetical redraft, Donovan Jackson still sticks in the first round, albeit at the end of it. He went 32nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Bleacher Report explained the pick.
“The Eagles don’t necessarily have a dire need along the offensive line—or really at any position for that matter. But Howie Roseman has long had a reputation for hoarding talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball—a proclivity that has served him well in the past.
The Eagles appear set at guard with Tyler Steen and Landon Dickerson. But when you’re a team with Super Bowl aspirations that likes to run the ball, depth on the interior is a good thing—and Jackson is arguably the best player available at this point.”
Vikings G Donovan Jackson Called ‘Essential Piece’ of Offensive Line
Back in December, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com had high praise of Donovan Jackson well into his rookie season.
“The first-year starter suffered through a bumpy start before emerging as a solid guard on a revamped offensive front. Although the Vikings’ record does not reflect his impact, Jackson is an essential building block on the line of scrimmage.”
With the strong pass-blocking foundation that Donovan Jackson laid down in his rookie season, there is reason to believe he could be a valuable piece of the Vikings’ offensive line for many years to come. Fans have been thirsty for some kind of solution to the leaky interior offensive lines and recent years, and the team tried to quench that last offseason. Not only was Jackson part of that attempt, but Will Fries as well.
