Alright, so I decided to spend some time looking into this Landon Jackson kid for the upcoming NFL draft. Heard his name mentioned a few times, figured I should see what the fuss was about, if any.
Started off just trying to get the basics down. Where’d he play? What position? You know, the usual starting points. Saw he began at LSU, then transferred over to Arkansas. Always makes you wonder a little when a guy transfers, but happens all the time now, right?
First Look and Stats
So, he’s an Edge guy, a defensive end. First thing that jumps out is his size. Dude is listed at like 6-foot-7. That’s some serious length off the edge. You can’t teach that.
Then I started digging into his production, especially after he got to Arkansas. Had to pull up the numbers:
- Tackles: Seemed decent enough, racked up a fair amount in his final year.
- Sacks: This is what you look for in an Edge, right? He definitely showed improvement here, put up some solid sack numbers in 2023.
- Tackles for Loss: Also pretty good, showed he could make plays behind the line.
Okay, so the numbers aren’t eye-popping superstar level, maybe, but definitely solid production, especially that last season. Shows he was getting better.
Watching Some Tape (The Eye Test)
Stats are one thing, but you gotta see how the guy moves. Fired up some highlight reels and cut-ups. That length is immediately obvious. He uses it pretty well to keep blockers off him sometimes. Seems like he has a good motor, keeps working on plays.
Saw some flashes rushing the passer. He’s got that long-arm move you’d expect. But, gotta be honest, sometimes he looked a bit raw. Maybe needs to develop more counter moves? And yeah, sometimes guys that tall play a bit high, lose leverage. Saw a bit of that too. Needs to consistently use his bend.
Strength looked okay, but maybe could add a bit more power to handle those big NFL tackles, especially in the run game. That’s often the knock on taller, leaner edge guys.
Putting It Together – My Thoughts
So, where does this leave me with Landon Jackson? He’s an interesting prospect, for sure. You get excited about that frame and length. That’s prime pass-rusher potential right there.
The Good Stuff:
- Great size and length for the position.
- Showed improved production, especially sacks, in his final year.
- Seems to have a good motor.
- Flashes potential as a pass rusher.
The Question Marks:
- Still looks a bit raw technique-wise sometimes.
- Needs to consistently play with better leverage.
- Could probably stand to add more functional strength for the run game at the next level.
- The LSU to Arkansas transfer – probably nothing, but you note it.
Overall, I see him as a developmental guy with a pretty high ceiling because of those physical tools. He’s not a finished product day one, I don’t think. A team will need to coach him up, refine his technique, maybe get him in the weight room to add some power.
Feels like a Day 3 pick to me, maybe late Day 2 if a team really falls in love with that potential. Someone is gonna take a shot on that frame hoping they can mold him into a real problem for offenses down the line. Just my two cents after digging around a bit.
