Lions trade up for OL Jonah Jackson in 3rd round

The Detroit Lions traded up with the Indianapolis Colts to select guard Jonah Jackson out of Ohio State in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, No. 75 overall.

Detroit sent a fifth-round pick (No. 149) to Indianapolis in return, and the two teams swapped sixth-rounders.

The Lions were in the market to add an interior blocker in the draft, and Jackson should compete with Joe Dahl, Kenny Wiggins, and Oday Aboushi at guard as a rookie.

Prospect Profile

School: Ohio State
Height: 6-3
Weight: 306 lbs

Positives

• Good size with ability to play guard or center
• Very smart blocker - always knows where blitzes and stunts are coming and reacts accordingly
• Excellent production in pass protection
• Advanced recovery skills - technique allows him to reset his hands and feet well when initially beaten off the line
• Good lateral quickness and ability to pull
• Flexible and fluid hips to stymie gap-shooters
• Wide base helps him absorb contact and stay balanced

Negatives

• Doesn't possess ideal frame or length for position
• Below-average raw strength and ability to drive defenders in the run game
• Loses leverage in the run game due to high pad level

Bottom line

A transfer from Rutgers in 2019, Jackson used his final college campaign to polish his overall technique. His skills in that department make his game extremely translatable to the pros. The third-team All-American likely won't ever truly dominate in the run game, but has the balance, awareness, and short-area agility to excel as a pass-blocker. In a league with numerous elite defensive tackles, it's a coveted skill set. While he can play in any offense, placing Jackson in a zone scheme would allow him to play in space.