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The Minnesota Vikings made a series of moves to revamp their interior offensive line this offseason, none bigger than their decision to make Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jackson has an immediate path to playing time, as Minnesota’s starting left guard job is very much up for grabs this summer.
He’ll also have one of the greatest players in Vikings history in his corner.
Per Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press, Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel plans to offer mentorship to Jackson, who played both guard and left tackle for the Buckeyes during their run to the 2024 national title.
“I will offer that up to him,” McDaniel said of working with Jackson. “If that’s something he’s interested in, I’m more than willing to do that.”
Let’s go out on a limb and assume Jackson will take the all-time great up on that offer.
McDaniel was one of the NFL’s true Ironmen of the 90s and early 2000s, starting 202 consecutive games at left guard. He also racked up nine consecutive All-Pro seasons and earned 12 straight Pro Bowl nods during a 14-year pro career that included 12 seasons with the Vikings. McDaniel was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2009.
Given the struggles of 2024 starting left guard Blake Brandel, the Vikings will give Jackson every opportunity possible to win that job in training camp. Jackson kicked outside to tackle for Ohio State after Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury, but in his five early-season starts at left guard, he allowed no sacks and just four total QB pressures.
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