2025 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Ohio State Offensive Lineman Donovan Jackson

The Buckeyes have a number of quality prospects in this year’s class, and one versatile offensive lineman may catch the Bengals’ eye.

THE Ohio State has been on a big run of late. While the Buckeyes have long been a powerhouse, a string of high-profile quarterbacks and major recruiting class commitments has kept them in the National Championship hunt in recent years.

When a team targets an offensive lineman outside of the first round, it’s often due to flawed traits, a perceived lack of versatility at the next level, and/or size concerns. Even so, confident coaching staffs sometimes spend valuable draft capital on these types of players—and some pay off in a big way.

Donovan Jackson was a standout offensive lineman for the National Champion Buckeyes last year, demonstrating leadership, versatility, and high-end talent. Whichever team drafts Jackson will need to have a long-term vision — but if things fall into place, they’ll be getting a solid NFL lineman.

Could that be for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Donovan Jackson

• Height: 6’3 1/2”
• Weight: 315
• Age: 22
• Year: Senior
• Hometown: Cypress, TX
• RAS:

Background

Jackson enters the draft as a three-time First-team All-Big 10 offensive lineman, showing his NFL pedigree. These accolades come on the heels of his being a five-star recruit out of high school.

PFF has Jackson as the No. 46 overall prospect in this year’s class, calling him a guy “with Day 1 starter potential”. Jackson has a solid, yet incomplete, RAS profile, but other metrics have some scouts wondering where he fits at the next level.

One of the biggest feathers in his cap is his transition from guard to tackle in the middle of 2024. He performed ably there, which bodes well for his draft stock.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As mentioned above, Jackson’s ability to perform at a high level at multiple positions for a major program has boosted his draft stock. His only notable blip at tackle last year came against Penn State and the outstanding Abdul Carter (a probable top-five pick this year), but that was also his first game after switching to tackle.

Despite some questions about his measurables, Jackson’s tape highlights his ability to play multiple positions effectively. He’s been praised for his footwork and overall technique, even if flashy blocks and pancake highlights aren’t regularly part of his reel.

While Jackson projects well as an NFL guard, and his film shows promise at tackle, many wonder if he can truly hold up as a long-term starter at that position. He looks like a strong candidate to be an emergency swing tackle while primarily playing inside—but can he eventually be groomed into a full-time NFL tackle?

Outlook

Jackson checks a lot of boxes for an offensive lineman the Bengals might target on Day Two. Solid film from a big (and winning) program and positional versatility are key factors. While the team hasn’t always prioritized highly athletic offensive linemen, Jackson possesses some high-end traits.

If the Bengals consider him in Round 2—which is where he’s largely projected to be taken—they’ll need to be confident he can develop into a long-term NFL tackle, even if he begins his career at guard. Regardless, his play strength and testing numbers consistently show up on film, which is a major plus when facing AFC North defenses on a regular basis.

There’s a lot to like about Jackson, particularly as a short-term (first-contract) solution to the long-standing interior offensive line issues the Bengals have faced. The question is whether he can transition to tackle at the NFL level if a team asks him to.

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