Here’s a hunch that Donovan Jackson could be the Cardinals top 1st round target with perhaps a trade down into the 20s or low 30s
The hug shown above between Cardinals’ new offensive line coach Justin Frye and Ohio St. guard Donovan Jackson after winning the 2024 FCS Natty may be precisely what the Cardinals are embracing to see for years to come.
One of the keys to Ohio St.’s impressive title run was Donovan Jackson’s versatility to slide over from left guard (where he was a top 2024 Outland Trophy candidate) to fill in very effectively for injured teammate Josh Simmons at left tackle.
In the FCS playoffs, look at the points the Ohio St, offense put up versus three of the best defenses in the country:
- Ohio St. 41-21 over Oregon (#16 defense)
- Ohio St. 28-14 over Texas (#3 defense)
- Ohio St. 34-23 over Notre Dame (#5 defense)
34.3 points per game versus 19.3 against.
With a makeshift offensive line, no less.
Anyone Sleeping on Simmons?
For a couple of months now in the pre-draft process, the offensive lineman most mocked to the Cardinals at pick #16 has been Ohio St. T Josh Simmons. Mel Kiper has Simmons ranked #22 on his current Big Board:
22. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 317 | Prev. rank: 17
2024 stats over six games: 6 starts, 0 sacks allowed
Simmons suffered a season-ending injury against Oregon. A former San Diego State right tackle, Simmons had looked really good on the left side after transferring to Ohio State before the 2023 season. He’s just very consistent, showing excellent footwork and balance in pass protection. I really like the way he drives defensive ends off the ball and gets to the second level.
The Bottom Line (per PFF)
Simmons brings impressive flexibility, leverage, foot speed, balance and hand work to the NFL with an adequate frame. He lacks a bit of power in the run game and is coming off an ACL tear in 2024, but his movement skills and football intelligence make him worthy of a top-50 pick and a shot to be a starter early on.
Here are Mel’s current rankings:
Offensive tackles
1. Armand Membou, Missouri
2. Will Campbell, LSU
3. Josh Simmons, Ohio State
4. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
5. Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
6. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
7. Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
8. Anthony Belton, NC State
9. Charles Grant, William & Mary
10. Cameron Williams, Texas
Guards
1. Tyler Booker, Alabama
2. Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
3. Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
4. Marcus Mbow, Purdue
5. Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
6. Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
7. Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
8. Tate Ratledge, Georgia
9. Emery Jones Jr., LSU
10. Connor Colby, Iowa
Hunch:
I have had the feeling all along that Monti Ossenfort has wanted to take of the primary needs at edge and defensive tackle in free agency so that he can draft one of the top ranked Ohio St. offensive linemen with the team’s first pick.
Mission accomplished.
I also get the sense that given his druthers, Justin Frye would prefer the Cardinals to select Donovan Jackson, with whom he seems to have a special rapport. The idea would be to play Donovan Jackson at left guard next to his Buckeye buddy Paris Johnson Jr.
Donovan Jackson, as the consensus rankings stand right now, is not expected to be a top 20 pick.
Yet could Donovan Jackson miraculously slide to the Cardinals at pick #47.
Those odds are slim to none and slim just left Winslow.
Therefore, the draft scenario concerning Donovan Jackson could play into what many of us have predicted all along, that Monti will want to trade down from #16 to acquire more draft picks, given that he only has six. That is, if Monti will get a good offer —- or if a star prospects whom no one would have imagined is on the board at #16 and is just too talented to pass,
Mel Kiper’s guard rankings would suggest very strongly that if Monti were to trade down into the 20s or even to picks 30, 31 or 32, then the odds of being able to select Donovan Jackson, Grey Zabel or Tyler Booker or are heavily stacked in the Cardinals’ favor. Any one of those three could be a plug and play starter for the Cardinals at guard.
Notice how only one free agent guard, Evan Brown, has been re-signed by Monti thus far?
Of course, one can assume that Monti will favor the familiarity that Justin Frye and Paris Johnson Jr. have with Donovan Jackson.
However, Grey Zagel is arguably the most talented and versatile offensive linemen in the draft (many scouts at the Senior Bowl claimed he was the best, most consistent player at any position all week) and Tyler Booker who may very well be the most powerful guard prospect of the three.
Have a look for yourselves at Jackson, Zabel and Booker (with PFF analyses):
Jackson was the top interior offensive line recruit in the nation in 2021 and certainly didn’t disappoint during his time in Columbus. He earned three First-Team All-Big Ten selections, including in 2024 when he moved to left tackle during the team’s final nine games and performed admirably. Jackson has a high floor with an ideal guard build and enough consistency to project as an NFL starter. While he isn’t always the most dominant player on the field, his combination of footwork and technique could help just about any team looking for a starting-caliber guard.
Zabel’s feet are light and can mirror pass-rushers well. He has excellent grip strength to latch on and maintain blocks. His plus core strength helps there, too. His leg drive is consistent and effective, though he will likely be a better zone blocker than a man/gap scheme blocker due to NFL-level strength and size. His power at punch can be average, and his hands can shoot high. His patience in pass blocking is a big plus, as is his hip/hamstring flexibility to stay low in his stance despite his 6-foot-6 frame. He brings great balance to recover against unexpected power. At the Senior Bowl, he was lights-out at guard and center.
At 6-foot-5 and near 330 pounds, he checks all the size boxes. He has excellent pre-snap posture thanks to his long arms — he can touch the ground while keeping his back flat. He has very high football intelligence. His weight is well distributed with minimal “bad” weight and good mass/power in the lower half. He could use a bit more force at contact on a consistent basis, but it is nothing glaring, and he even has some snaps where he can really move defenders against their will. His functional athleticism is adequate — he can get on the hoof as a puller and not look unnatural. If there is a potential glaring issue, it likely comes from his foot speed. When he is braced and ready, he can have a strong base, but when caught off guard, he doesn’t have elite core strength and can get knocked off balance more easily than expected. He is praised for his competitiveness, leadership, high football IQ and work ethic.
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