The Vikings Love Taking Ohio State Players at #24 Overall

A strange coincidence

In the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Minnesota Vikings selected Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson. To be honest, we should have seen a selection like this coming.

According to our friend Lindsey Young from the Vikings’ PR team, Thursday night was the third time that the Minnesota Vikings have selected at #24 in franchise history. . .and it’s also the third time the Vikings have taken a player from Ohio State at #24 overall.

The first time was in 1971 when the Vikings took running back Leo Hayden. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Hayden lasted just one season in Minnesota, and he acknowledged later on that his play was affected by drug abuse.

In 1995, the Vikings made a much better pick with the selection of offensive tackle Korey Stringer. Stringer was a huge part of the Vikings’ offensive line throughout the late 1990s and was poised to take over at left tackle in 2001. Before that could happen, however, he tragically passed away during a Training Camp practice ahead of that season. His #77 was later retired by the Vikings.

And now, in 2025, the Vikings have taken another Ohio State talent at #24 with the selection of Donovan Jackson.

Also, Jackson is the first guard the Vikings have selected in the first round since 1988. The player they took in Round 1 that season? Some guy named Randall McDaniel. He turned out to be an alright selection.

I’m not sure when the Vikings will be selecting at #24 again. . .I’d prefer for them to be picking more in the #32 range from here on out. . .but if they do draw that selection, I guess the prudent thing to do would be to just find the most talented player from Ohio State and put him in that spot.