Vikings Honor Culture in NFL Draft by Praising Donovan Jackson’s Selfless Spirit

Eagan, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings were Donovan Jackson on his radar last year when he was contemplating joining the NFL draft , prior to deciding to go back to Ohio State for his final year.

Their curiosity about the 6-foot-4, 315-pound left guard intensified as they watched Jackson help lead Ohio State to the national title, recognizing more than just his skills and play.

A hurt at left tackle led to a requirement for Jackson to move over, however, coach Ryan Day let him make this call. Taking on an unfamiliar role spontaneously could potentially diminish his appeal to NFL scouts. Nonetheless, Jackson accepted the change, prioritizing the overall benefit above personal career progression with a mindset focused on teamwork that reinforced Minnesota’s belief in selecting him within the first round.

On Thursday, the Vikings chose Jackson with the 24th overall pick, opting not to trade down and accumulate additional selections in favor of securing him to complete their offseason reconstruction of the offensive line’s interior.

We frequently use the term 'selfless,' and I believe it’s one we enjoy applying to ourselves," said Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo Mensah. "But when someone acts truly selflessly—putting their entire future at stake—they're taking risks for the good of others. What he accomplished with his team led to a national championship campaign, which is something both he and our organization can take pride in.

This kind of mentality has been crucial for the Vikings since Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell joined three years back. Although "culture" often turns into a common business cliché, it genuinely influences outcomes. Their impressive 14-victory campaign in 2024 benefited significantly from robust team cohesion, which the management fostered intentionally when assessing potential players. However, the main challenge remains adding quality pieces without compromising overall skill levels.

How Jackson played as a tackle, going up against the third overall pick in this draft—a Penn State edge rusher named Abdul Carter—in his debut game clearly demonstrated his ability to compete at an elite level.

That was quite thrilling for me to witness that and think, ‘Yes, that’s the type of athlete I truly thought was hidden within,’" Adofo-Mensah stated. "We’re looking forward to the potential of the player we’ve acquired.

Jackson adopts an unassuming stance regarding his positional change, which also brought additional insights that should aid him in his shift to the NFL.

I primarily aimed to contribute to the team’s victory above all else. Regardless of my personal objectives, as long as the team succeeds and my aims take a backseat, I am content,"Jackson stated."However, one thing I took away from this experience was learning how to effectively handle various types of pass rushers. As a guard, your battles often feel confined like being in a phone booth. But when positioned at tackle, you're usually up against someone with quite a distinct physique.

Felton offers a quick choice both as a wide receiver and on special teams.

After selecting Jackson, the Vikings did not make another choice until their next pick at No. 102, which came later in the third round on Friday following a trade-down deal with Houston. With this selection, they managed to add significant depth by choosing Taiwan "Tai" Felton, a wide receiver from Maryland. Last season, he topped the Big Ten conference statistics with 96 receptions for 1,124 receiving yards and recorded one of the fastest 40-yard dashes among wideouts, clocking in at an impressive 4.37 seconds. at the NFL Combine . His vertical jump (39.5 inches) tied for fourth.

"Allow me to take control of the situation. My aim is to leave defenders behind and head towards scoring," Felton stated.

He is also expected to receive significant consideration for roles as both a punter and kick return specialist.

You can really see this athlete's swiftness in the footage," stated senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson. "They will bring versatility to our offensive playbook.

Newly arrived from the defensive line production facility

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia's defensive tackle, was the initial pick for the Vikings on Saturday. They opted for a team known for producing numerous NFL-caliber players recently, particularly within their defensive line.

Ingram-Dawkins developed into a starting player for the Bulldogs during his senior year, showcasing potential despite being somewhat unpolished. His game highlights include a powerful initial move from scrimmage and exceptional agility when changing directions. With experienced players like Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Harrison Phillips leading the way, Ingram-Dawkins has the opportunity to develop further. The defensive line was bolstered significantly after signing both Allen and Hargrave in free agency.

Just aiming to pick up some knowledge from them and ideally get a chance soon," he stated. "I will simply wait for my moment.

The checkbox for the backup quarterback has been marked.

The most significant occurrence on Saturday was the acquisition of quarterback Sam Howell From Seattle, a deal was made involving an exchange of fifth-round picks with the Seahawks. In 2023, Howell began playing as a starter for all seasons in Washington. At just 24 years old, he still has significant potential to grow under O'Connell’s guidance. Additionally, he serves as a reliable backup should anything happen to J.J. McCarthy.

“If the season started today,” Adofo-Mensah said, “we'd be fired up about the guys in that room.”

Rounding out the roster

After some more maneuvering, the Vikings netted an extra pick and drafted Penn State linebacker Kobe King (201st overall) and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew (202nd) in the sixth round.

King was expected to be chosen in the middle rounds, so the Vikings decided not to pass up on him even though they already had Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace established as their starting linebackers.

I observed him, and I thought, 'There's absolutely no chance he'll still be around when this projection indicates he should be,'" Adofo-Mensah stated. "Occasionally luck is on your side.

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