The Detroit Lions traded up in the third round with the Indianapolis Colts from No. 85 to No. 75 and selected Jonah Jackson to fill in on the interior offensive line.
After the departure of Graham Glasgow in free agency, there were many questions as to how the Lions will fill that void, and we got our answer with Jackson.
He possesses an NFL ready body (6-3.5 and 305 lbs) and will immediately make his presence known. He was only a one-year starter at Ohio State, but that was after a graduate transfer from Maryland.
One of Jackson’s calling cards is he can line up anywhere along the interior offensive line registering snaps at left guard, right guard, and center during his collegiate career.
With his mean streak, he will open gaps for the run game and will clear any lane with his firm, engaging hands. If he loses the initial battle, he has excellent balance and quickness to re-engage and attack. He has only allowed a single sack in the past three seasons and fewer than 10 pressures during the same stretch.
The area that gets Jackson in trouble is sometimes his upper half doesn’t communicate well with his bottom half leading some mechanical issues and him getting too upright, eventually losing the battle. He also gets grabby at times leading to him relying on his strength to holds. Some of his techniques could require some refinement, but the attributes are there for him to be an effective guard.
The Lions got an up-close and personal look at Jackson, coaching him at the Senior Bowl, and they must’ve fallen in love with him if they were willing to trade up to make sure he is a Detroit Lion. With his superior play strength, NFL ready size, and quality guard attributes, he will immediately step in and fill the vacant guard spot. Between him and Vaiti, they will create a formidable run blocking duo and help clear the lanes for Kerryon Johnson and second-round selection D’Andre Swift.