2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Drake Jackson





  • Drake Jackson, 6-4/255

  • Defensive End

  • USC


  • 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
  • Agile; not stiff




  • Weaknesses:
  • Not overwhelmingly fast
  • Not overwhelmingly powerful
  • Could stand to get quick off the ball
  • Needs to improve pass-rushing moves


  • Summary: At a program like USC, it can be hard to see the field instantly, but Jackson was able to do that during his freshman season. He was one of the top freshman defenders in the nation in 2019, putting up 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes defended. In the shortened 2020 season, Jackson recorded 20 tackles, two sacks and an interception. Jackson then totaled 37 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and an interception in 2021. He displayed pass-rushing talent off the edge and played hard. USC hurt his production by moving him around, playing him somewhat at outside linebacker, dropping him into coverage, and reducing his pass-rushing opportunities.

    Jackson has an NFL starting skill set with size, quickness and athleticism. He shows quality instincts and vision on the edge to adjust to the offense and the upside to get better.



    As a pass rusher, Jackson has talent and upside to improve as he gains experience. He possesses good size to take on tackles with an impressive burst to close on the quarterback. Jackson uses his quickness to do a nice job of darting to the inside, and he shows a quality rip move to work the inside shoulder of offensive tackles. Jackson is not a pure speed demon off the edge, and he needs to improve his get-off for the pros. He is also not the first defender off the ball, so improving there could help him to get upfield and be a more effective rusher in the NFL. Along with improving his first-step off the ball, Jackson could continue to use refinement in terms of his pass-rushing moves.

    Jackson needs to improve in the ground game for the pros. As a sophomore, there were times when he looked like he was doing the minimum and seemed disinterested. He looked better as a junior, however, playing harder and putting forth more effort. He flashed the ability to be a quality run stuffer, but must get better at stacking his block, shedding the offensive lineman, and flowing to the ball.

    Jackson has some versatility on the edge and showed comfort playing in space. USC used him as a defensive end lined up with his hand on the turf and as a standup outside linebacker for dropping in coverage. Jackson moves pretty well in space for a big edge defender, and he shows quality vision to disrupt passing lanes. Jackson also displays nice recognition to adjust to covering check downs in the flat and not allowing the quarterback to have an open outlet receiver. Jackson will be used more as a rusher in the NFL, but he has versatility to play the edge in a 3-4 or 4-3.

    Jackson could get consideration in the back half of the first round during the 2022 NFL Draft. If he slips to the second day, he should not fall out of Round 3.



    Player Comparison: Whitney Mercilus. Jackson reminds me of Mercilus because he has quickness but lacks overwhelming speed and is not an overly dominant power defender. Mercilus (6-4, 258) and Jackson are almost identical in size with the ability to drop into coverage and play in space. Mercilus was a late first-round pick by the Texans and turned into an excellent pro. Jackson might not end up as good as Mercilus was at his peak, but if Jackson pans out he could be a similar style defender to Mercilus.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2022 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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