Darrell Jackson Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report

Florida State's Darrell Jackson Jr. is one of the top interior defensive line prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, with an impressive combination of size and athleticism that gives him limitless potential at the next level. His massive frame and strong blend of power and length makes him a constant headache for opposing blockers, and should make him a Day 2 pick.

Here's everything NFL fans need to know about Jackson heading into this year's draft:

Darrell Jackson Jr.'s Vitals

Height: 6-5

Weight: 337

Age: 22

Darrell Jackson Jr.'s Strengths

A “first off the bus” player with one of the most imposing frames of any prospect in this class, Jackson is a towering presence in the trenches. His rare combination of size, length and power create serious matchup problems for interior blockers, and he routinely drives them back off the ball to disrupt whatever’s happening with the ball in the backfield. He plays with a strong, wide base, and uses his wingspan to stack and shed opponents on his way to the ball carrier. He has a devastating long-arm move as a pass rusher that can dump interior linemen into the quarterback’s lap, and he plays with a constant level of violence, physicality and nonstop effort that wears opponents down over four quarters.

Darrell Jackson Jr.'s Weaknesses

He’s not the most explosive athlete, and his limited array of pass-rushing moves led to limited production at the college level, with just 7.5 career sacks over four-plus seasons. His taller frame presents constant challenges in terms of maintaining proper bad level, with most interior blockers having a consistent leverage advantage with a lower center of gravity. Double-team blocks can get under his pads and drive him away from the ball, and he lacks the counter-attack ability to recover once he’s washed out of his gap.

Final Analysis

There’s pass-rushing upside here, but Jackson needs to develop beyond his go-to power moves if he wants to expand his skill set beyond an early-down role at the next level. Even if he’s not able to grow that area of his game, though, Jackson’s run-stuffing prowess is still worth an early-round pick, and his rare size/power combo will be a valuable asset for any NFL defense.

2026 NFL Draft Projection: Day 2 (2nd/3rd Round)