The San Francisco 49ers went linebacker with their first pick this year, selecting Drake Jackson with the 61st pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.He played three seasons with the USC Trojans and played plenty of snaps at both defensive end and outside linebacker. Download 2021 NFL Draft Guide Jackson is going to be an interesting evaluation for a lot of NFL teams. Below-average play strength against the run. During a senior year where he was named All-Big VIII League Co-MVP after racking up another 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 6 pass deflections, Jackson visited USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. His performances earned him an honorable mention for the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Jackson played at 275 pounds as a true DE for USC in 2019. In the 11th hour, it seemed as if the Sun Devils had stolen him right out from USCs own backyard, but Jackson had a last-second change of heart and stayed close to home. Inconsistent as a tackler - not good when runners run directly at him, Could do with improving his technique as a pass rusher - he relies to much on athletic ability something he won't be able to do at the next level. Do you agree they are better prospects than CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker and Anthony Richardson? 10 1/8
Does a fine job of getting downfield to make tackles. Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Struggles to gather himself when flying around the edge. Negatives: Lacks bulk and gets controlled at the point or easily knocked from his angle of attack by a single blocker. However, there is a strong possibility that Jacksons untapped potential was a product of having to fit multiple defensive schemes and changing weights at USC. He was also awarded Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention. As a result, his 12 offers had a heavy Pac-12 contingency. He has great length for a 63 EDGE and he pairs that with a ton of burst and speed off of the snap. With Jackson, though, its very easy to see his overwhelming talent shining through. He posted excellent vertical (36.5) and broad (107) jumps. Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. Ultimately, I believe that Drake Jackson will come off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft towards the end of the first round. As a pass rusher, Jackson has the all-around athletic profile to threaten the outside and inside tracks. Very good playing strength and has worked hard in the weight room, adding bulk and filling out his frame. The San Francisco 49ers selected USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the 29th pick (No. Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati (Scouting Report) 5. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. 17 min read. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Drake Jackson. Although his junior season may not have lived up to expectation, there is still significant NFL Draft interest in the USC OLB, with a reportedly high number of team visits during the pre-draft process. Purdue's George Karlaftis went at the end of Round 1 a year ago, and USC's Drake Jackson went a round later; both players were high-upside prospects who exceeded expectations as rookies. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. As a true freshman, he played at nearly 275 lbs but slimmed down to roughly 255 lbs by the time he was a junior in 2021 due to USC's change in defensive schemes. Before National Signing Day, Jackson narrowed down his options to USC and Arizona State. NFL draft profile scouting report for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson. Jackson is also very good at reducing inside when tackles beat him to the edge, although that didnt happen very often in college.
Heading into the 2021 college football season, Jackson was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this class. Jackson wins solely with speed alone at this time. Despite the narrative that he recorded a down year, the star defender performed very well as a sophomore under unique and challenging circumstances. Keep track of some of the best and most notable performances from the four days of on-field workouts in Indianapolis. The talk of the 2022 NFL Draft class at the edge position centers around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. AboutPressCopyrightContact. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. Another documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. Jackson is also an unreliable tackler. Drake Jackson Scouting Report By Charlie Campbell Strengths: Quality skill set Enough size, speed, athleticism, strength to function Quick off the edge Burst off ball Dangerous darting to the inside Quality rip move Versatile to play end or outside linebacker Can drop into coverage Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense Can dip underneath tackles Athletic Jackson further upped his performance in 2021 logging 6 sacks and 17 QB hurries while playing on 414 snaps Scouting Report: Strengths Fantastic closing speed timed at 4.5 secs in the forty - with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs. The NFL released the list of prospects invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Jacksons all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Lacks the willingness to really be a great run defender. When talking about edge players in this year's upcoming draft, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeuax is the first name that comes to mind. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. DE/OLB Drake Jackson, USC (Scouting Grade: C) 6'3"/255, 2020: 20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks (6g), Projected: 4.65 40-time, 7.0 3-cone. Needs more Leverage in his game. While he is capable of playing outside linebacker, a position on the defensive line seems more natural for him. The poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can be at the next level. There's also a "prose of the vague" tradition dating back to real NFL scouting which has become the literary style of the draft scouting report. This impacted his play, but Jackson finished on a strong note. Simply put, USC didnt do any favors for Jackson during his time in Los Angeles. As mentioned above, Jackson needs to work on his pass-rush plan. GRADE: 7.7 (Potential Impact Player - 2nd Round). The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He was awarded second-team All-Pac 12 honors at years end behind just Keyvon Thibodeaux. Caleb Williams: 52 total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of offense. All Rights Reserved. Currently, hes excellent at pursuing in space. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. Jackson is a project. That also makes it difficult to gauge how deep his pass rush repertoire is and how comfortable he is with each move. Currently, hes listed as the third best edge rusher on our 2022 NFL Draft Top 200 Big Board. A little bit clumsy with a good bit of wasted movement in his athleticism. Pro Football Network, LLC. The Cowboys EVP spoke on Tuesday out in Indianapolis. However, if he could work to use his length to his advantage in disengaging from blockers, that would make him a more impactful run defender. Photo Credit: john McGillen/USC Athletics, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: USC EDGE Drake Jackson, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Liberty QB Malik Willis, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Texas A&M IOL Kenyon Green, Tyjae Spears Prepared To Show Out At 2023 NFL Combine, Jalin Hyatt Poised For Top Performance At 2023 NFL Combine, 2023 NFL Draft: Quarterback Position Rankings Pre-Combine, 2023 NFL Draft: Most Likely Landing Spots For Free Agency Quarterbacks, Eric Bieniemy And Commanders Should Focus On QB This Offseason, 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ohio State OT Dawand Jones, Excellent Quickness And Agility Off The Line Of Scrimmage, Possesses Some Of The Best Body Lean And Bend In This Class, Fantastic Timing With His Hands To Stun Offensive Linemen, Fails To Incorporate Spins And Twists Into Repertoire, Can Struggle With Change Of Direction In Coverage, Adequate Speed And Quickness To Attack Ball Carriers On Outside Runs. He also earned the All-Big VIII League Co-MVP award. In 2018, he was named to the 2018 PrepStar All-American team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Division 1, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Los Angeles Times All-Area team and Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area first team. His standard rush isnt lacking either, using his bend and quickness to force his way to the quarterback. Has a wide-receiver like . It was difficult to fully appreciate it at the combine since Jackson didnt participate in much, but USC clocked him at a 4.5 40-yard dash following Jacksons sophomore year. In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. His length makes him disruptive, and hes demonstrated the ability to bend around the corner. (59%*), 127 (C)
He. As said above, needs more consistency against the run. Denver could afford to bet on Jackson's upside. Nov 14, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. Height: 6'4" Weight: 255. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Van Ness is in the same conversation, but could be the best of the bunch. Further, he does a great job of reading and diagnosing read-option plays, as well as attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently. From there, his ability to turn the corner is inconsistent. It is also important to remember he is still just 21 years old. Vertical Jump: 36.5 The NFL invited 324 draft prospects to its scouting combine in 2022. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. He has the length to be disruptive at the point of attack, but he doesnt currently have a ton of weapons in his armory. Drake Jackson To 49ers - Scout's Take And Inside Scouting ReportCHECK OUT THE HABERMAN & MIDDLEKAUFF PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/us/. As a true freshman, he played at nearly 275 lbs but slimmed down to roughly 255 lbs by the time he was a junior in 2021 due to USCs change in defensive schemes. His motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing to the whistle. A four-star high school prospect, Jackson ranked as the 10th-best player in California. As always, you can find us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram. [] the ground running. Quick to pick up assignments and holds his own in coverage. He is also great at tracking and chasing down the ball carrier in the run game. Covers a good amount of area on the field, shows ability in pursuit, and makes a lot of plays in space. People have questions about the Cowboys, and we strive to provide the answers. Will start to give up on a play if the ball doesnt end up near him initially. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. But on the other hand, Jacksons ability to start as a true freshman and then not lose a step during a scheme change the following year is a testament to his overall processing. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. USC even dropped him into coverage out of wider alignments from time to time. The USC OLB struggles to set the edge in the ground game. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. Fantastic closing speed timed at 4.5 secs in the forty - with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs. . His long arms allow him to clog passing lanes when tasked with coverage responsibilities. The five-man unit of left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard Rodger Saffold, center Mitch Morse, right guard Ryan Bates, and right tackle Spencer Brown was underwhelming to say the least. Could the Chicago Bears Sneak Into the Playoffs This Year? Lateral quickness is above average. 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker III Scouting Report. He's a player who once received top-10 hype; however, his stock declined mightily over the season while others rose. Jackson is primarily limited by his inconsistency. Raadpleeg ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw gegevens gebruiken. There are times where he throws out a move or two and looks unstoppable, but Jackson doesnt keep that up long enough to become as dominant as hes clearly capable of. When tasked with being the primary edge-setter, Jackson just doesnt have the strength and technical refinement to get the job done. Jackson, who just turned 21 years old, produced 25.0 tackles for losses and 12.5 sacks over 28 games (26 starts) at USC. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. Consistently wraps up and finishes tackles in the backfield. In Los Angeles to threaten the outside and inside tracks the best and notable! 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