Vikings Handed Down Compelling Grade Selecting J.J. McCarthy's New Pass Protector

NFL.com draft expert Chad Reuter compiled his grades from the draft and he gave the Vikings an above average grade of B. While Reuter is a fan of what Jackson can bring to Minnesota, he feels there might have been other options on the table that would have worked better for the Vikings.

“Minnesota continued to remodel its interior offensive line with the selection of Jackson. He impressed by moving from left guard to left tackle during the Buckeyes’ championship run last season after the injury to Josh Simmons left a vacancy on the blind side. Jackson will move back to the interior in the pros. He’s a solid player who will be a sturdy pass protector and strong run blocker for years to come.”

“There was value at other areas of need for the Vikings when they were on the clock, with safeties Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks available, as well as cornerback Maxwell Hairston. The team could use more picks in this draft, too (it only has three remaining for now). I would have preferred to see Minnesota trade down at any cost instead of staying put to take an interior blocker.”

Jackson compiled a decorated career with many accolades, including Big Ten and All-American selections. He played both guard and tackle for the Buckeyes, which showed his versatility to play anywhere on the line. That’s a massive plus for a Vikings offensive line going through changes with the additions of Will Fries and Ryan Kelly.

Conversely, believing the Vikings could not find a suitable trade partner to move back is tough. The Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly on the phones in the 20s trying to move up. There were four draft night trades, three of which came after Minnesota’s pick. It feels like a missed opportunity to move back and collect more picks.

While the offensive line was a conversation in the first round with Minnesota, the secondary needed more attention with Cam Bynum and Stephon Gilmore gone, and Harrison Smith entering what could be his last year. The Vikings will need to scramble to find a safety in the third round or trade back and look to 2026 to find the replacement in the draft.