Drake Jackson NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report

NFL Prospect Profile: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

Name:  Drake Jackson

School: University of South California

Year: Junior

Position: EDGE

Measurables: 6’3”, 254 lbs. (Combine Measurements)

 

Stats: 

 

General Info:

A star at Centennial High School in Corona, California, Drake Jackson was one of the biggest fish from USC’s 2019 recruiting class. He was a composite four-star and the 56th highest ranked prospect, per 247 Sports, while being a top-three defensive end. Most of the interest in Jackson came from Californian and Pac-12 schools, and he decided to stay in state by signing with USC.

As a true freshman, Jackson was one of USC’s best defenders. He was a starter from day one, becoming the first freshman to start USC’s line since Everson Griffen in 2007. Jackson started all 11 games he appeared in and led the team in both tackles-for-loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). After the season, numerous outlets named him to their “Freshman All-American” and “All Pac-12” teams, including PFF, AP, and Phil Steele.

Expectations were obviously high for Jackson following his sophomore year, but the impact of COVID-19 detracted from what might have been a dominant campaign. In six games (all starts), Jackson had 20 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and two sacks (with a pick just for kicks), and was once again named to several All Pac-12 second teams. It should be noted that he was transitioning to an OLB, however, after playing DE his freshman year.

Jackson’s 2021 junior season was a lot of “same old, same old.” He appeared in 11 games, starting nine of them, and put together another strong season. Jackson once again led USC in TFLs, with 8, and added another five sacks to bring his career total to 12.5. Just like the previous two years, Jackson was present on multiple All Pack-12 second teams.

Expecting to declare for the draft, Jackson opted out of USC’s final game of the season against California to prepare/protect himself. He was invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, where he put up strong numbers in the broad and vertical jumps (the only two measurables he performed at the Combine.). At his Pro Day, he also performed in three-cone and agility drills, and his measurements would have been towards the top of all players who tested as defensive ends at the Combine. Jackson also bulked up substantially for his Pro Day, weighing in at 273 lbs. as compared to his Combine weight of 254.

 

Positional Skills:

Strengths

  • Plus athlete, with really strong agility and explosiveness measurables.
  • Put on 20 pounds and still had a strong Pro Day performance, suggesting that he can still be effective (and potentially better) with that added weight.
  • One of the most flexible, bendy pass rushers in the draft.
  • As a 3-4 OLB, Jackson has shown the ability to drop into space and hold his own in coverage.
  • Stays low and uses leverage very well.
  • One of the youngest prospects in the draft, having turned 21 on April 12th.
  • Lateral movement—Jackson can get up and down the line of scrimmage while fighting his way to the QB.

Weaknesses

  • Consistency has eluded Jackson over his three years at USC.
  • Lacks desired strength on the edge. He was overwhelmed by stronger tackles at times.
  • Too reliant on athleticism right now. Jackson is very raw, and does not use his hands well.
  •  You know those clips of defensive ends being blocked out of frame by a tight end on a run play? Yeah… Jackson cannot be trusted as a consistent player against the run right now, to say the least.
  • Inconsistent tackler.

Fit with the Packers:

In some ways, Jackson has a lot of what the Packers look for in a developmental prospect, especially in the early rounds of the draft. He is an extremely athletic, extremely young player who needs refining. However, some of his weaknesses are extremely concerning; I worry about his inability to turn his speed and explosiveness into power, and when a player doesn’t seem to develop much over three years of college football, it’s a red flag for me. It will be interesting to see if he is able to maintain/be effective at his Pro Day weight, which would put him in the range of Gary/Z Smith, or if he winds up at his USC playing weight. In his game tape, Jackson is built a lot like Brian Burns, and I would imagine a lot of teams hope Jackson can develop like the Panthers star. I would hesitate to take Jackson at 28, though I would not rule out entirely, but he seems like a potential second round target for the Packers. Green Bay would be an ideal place for Jackson to land, as he could spend time behind Gary and Preston Smith as he develops as a player.

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Comments (18)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 19, 2022 at 09:55 pm

So he is a replacement for Preston Smith. Since he can cover, he can probably play earlier than some might expect, though his run defense is um, lacking for a guy who started as a DE and moved to OLB. He is a true 3-4 OLB. All of the tools without the pass rushing production.

Boom or bust guy. Some GMs might take a chance on him in the first, but more likely he might go earlier in the 2nd based on potential.

+ Long arms (34" and a huge wingspan like 82").
- Motor is not always on.

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BirdDogUni's picture

April 20, 2022 at 12:00 am

IDK why, but I just want to steer clear of this guy. I'd kind of like to steer clear of the PAC12 altogether. (Yes I know KC is out of UCLA.) Yes, I know some decent players come out of the PAC12, but so have some of our biggest mistakes.

In fact, I would go so far as to draft our players from cold weather teams, so they're used to it. (At least if it was close in evaluations.) You can't pass up talent, but you get what I mean.

Looking forward to the draft. Could get very exciting, very quickly.

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greengold's picture

April 20, 2022 at 05:36 am

Kenny Clark would like a word…

Your first thought, however, is mine too with this kid.

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 07:47 am

Hey BDU, check out this draft:

22 T Burks 28 N Dean 53 T McBride 59 L Chenal 92 J Woods 132 Kyren Williams 140 Matt Waletzko 171 Chris Paul 228 Jailen Nailor 249 Jerreth Sterns 258 Cole Kelley

I wasn't happy how things were falling, but I've had this idea the last few days...

By taking Nakobe Dean, I believe you can fill both the Barnes-upgrade and Sullivan-star roles with a three-down player. I really like Dean as an Alpha/Leader which this defense could really use. Meanwhile, Chenal supplies a quality backup for Campbell and Dean and a similar pass rush presence as Z Smith provided, not to mention a great ST potential.

McBride and Woods completely reconfigure the TE room in a very good way.
Waletzko and Paul are really good developmental OL men.
Kyren Williams cuz crush :-D (Man, I'd really love to see him doing returning)
As far as the WRs...
I keep thinking that if we get Burks, we fill Davante's hole, and with the addition of Watkins, all we need is a few more developmental/risky WR picks. Nailor is a good returner and has potential. I find Sterns fascinating. I don't think BG would pick him, but dang, the kid can play. He's like the Spud Webb of football...he's tiny, but shoots into the air like he's going off a trampoline. :-D He just might be "the exception that proves the rule."

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 20, 2022 at 04:41 am

I'm interested in seeing how they treat the Edge position in this draft. The new OLBs coach and Barry both come from teams that had smaller players at Edge. Was the preference for bigger guys strictly a Pettine thing or does it continue? I really like Bonitto from Oklahoma as a speed rusher and have seen quotes from scouts saying he's really good in coverage, but he was 248 at the combine and had probably added 10 lbs since the end of the season. I don't think he'll be available at 92 anymore. Oklahoma used him as a QB spy quite a bit and he was still pretty productive. I watched a couple whole games of Oklahoma's defense mainly to watch Winfrey and Bonitto is very active and hard to miss. 52 pressures in 263 passing snaps and pass rushing grades over 90 from PFF for the last two years.

I'd take Cam Thomas over Jackson. He had a 6.87 3-cone at 265 lbs and it's a more natural weight for him. Jackson was supposedly 238 lbs at the end of the season and what's been going on with his weight this Spring is pretty odd. Thomas has also played inside quite a bit.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 20, 2022 at 04:49 am

PFF has Bonitto as their 38th best prospect. PFF is rather weird: I don't think they evaluate how a college player might fare in the NFL very well.

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greengold's picture

April 20, 2022 at 06:06 am

Yeah, they do only -some- things really well. PFF is the Trader Joe’s of NFL player info/analysis.

“I have to go pick up a few things…”

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 06:17 am

As someone who loves Trader Joes, and wishes there was one closer than two hours away, I'm outraged by this comparison! :-D More like Wal-Mart. :-D

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 12:24 pm

The things I get downvoted for! :-D

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 05:10 am

I'm curious too.
I personally prefer edges who actually HOLD the edge. Freelancing pass rushers like Clay and Z became can get sacks but kill you versus the run. I hate watching teams run the ball through a "sieve of a defense." (shudders from 1980s flashbacks).

I like Winfrey because he plays both the run and the pass well. I keep flip-flopping on Jackson.

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greengold's picture

April 20, 2022 at 06:54 am

While Perrion Winfrey isn’t an EDGE, I think he can do some damage there situationally. Dynamic 3-Tech for the Packers. He’s super versatile to line up just about anywhere on any given play. Explosive, with the levers to dominate his opponents. I’d take him at 28. I think he’s that good.

His numbers would be far better if his DC didn’t use him around 40% of the time over the A gaps. I covet this guy immensely to GB, along with VJJ and Troy Andersen, the latter a player who had a lot of success everywhere you put him, including EDGE.

(Every year I have a draft crush or two. This year, I have about 8-10!) - Man, is this draft loaded for us. WR, OL, EDGE.

For pure EDGE, I prefer Sam Williams, Cam Thomas, Paschal and Alex Wright. Day 3 picks for me at EDGE include Wright, Eyioma Uwazurike, Michael Clemons & Ali Fayad.

Maybe Uwazurike jumps into Day 2… he is ascending, with some freakish Pro traits and versatile AF.

Cam Thomas insanely versatile & productive at the college level. I have a sinking feeling some of that might go away in the Pros. He also tweeked a hammy, killing his Senior Bowl. Gives me a little pause, but I do like him.

Bonnito is OK - has some great stuff to develop further, I guess. Ebiketie over Enagbare. Barno, Bare and Drake Jackson I don’t much care for to GB… we want high, full on motor at EDGE - PLUS RUN STOP.

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 06:30 am

Right, I want Winfrey as a 3 or 5, not as an edge.
I'm curious to see when Anderson goes; I think he has some Clay Matthews type potential.

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Johnblood27's picture

April 20, 2022 at 08:02 am

Agree on Winfrey.

I like Bonitto as an ILB, he probably doesn't like that, but I do! He will get drafted too early to justify that level for a switch to ILB, so I can forget about that happening.

I hope Bisaccia whispers in Gutey's ear "pick Anderson"

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

April 20, 2022 at 12:26 pm

Hey, that's funny JB27! I had that same thought (Bonitto at ILB) a couple weeks ago, but kept it to myself! :-D I wondered if he could be a Nakobe Dean type.

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Johnblood27's picture

April 20, 2022 at 02:56 pm

I dont like Bonittos length and bulk against the run to hold the point as an OLB.

He has some rush, but his overall game seems to translate to ilb in the pro game.

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MarkinMadison's picture

April 19, 2022 at 10:58 pm

Sounds like his weight has bounced around a lot, and as he was asked to change positions. Changing positions. Dropping 20 lbs. with an illness. Not hard to see why he would have trouble progressing at the college level. Somebody needs to figure out how to help him get the most out of himself and then let him stick to it, or he's going to be a wasted pick.

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LambeauPlain's picture

April 20, 2022 at 09:40 am

My view is draft prospects for OLB/Edge that played OLB productively in college. Ted and Capers were constantly drafting DEs, hands on the ground college players to make them stand up and turn them into OLBs...Perry, Neal, Datone Jones, even Kampman, whose production disappeared after standing up to play OLB.

I know Gary played DE at MI and is an exception smoothly adjusting to OLB/Edge...as was Peppers.

But draft prolific, athletic OLBs like CMIII to play Edge as first option. There are a bunch of prolific, athletic OLBs in this draft: Lloyd, Bonitto, Anderson, Williams for example...all fast, big, strong productive OLBs.

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 20, 2022 at 01:04 pm

To be fair there are a lot more teams playing 3-4(actually 3-3-5) in college these days. In TTs day there were only 3 or 4 most years.

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