San Francisco 49ers select USC defensive lineman Drake Jackson in 2022 NFL Draft
There’s a long history of USC players getting drafted and another name was added to the list on Friday night with Drake Jackson. The San Francisco 49ers selected the defensive lineman No. 61 overall on Friday, making him the second Trojans player picked in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jackson played in 11 games during the 2021 season, having 37 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, and five sacks. He was a three-year player in Los Angeles, starting in all but two of his career appearances.
Before the NFL Scouting Combine, Jackson was asked what he wanted teams to learn about him. He wanted to prove he was a “freak” and said he is willing to play wherever he is needed — even if there is a learning curve.
“I just want them to know I can do anything. I’m a freak, man. I love to do it all,” he said during Friday’s media session at the 2022 NFL Combine. “It doesn’t matter what it comes to. And if I can’t do it, I’ll work to do it.”
“A lot of teams are trying to figure out what I am, but you know, I’m everything,” Jackson said. “That’s what I tell them. Wherever you need me, I can play it. You can put me at nickel. I got to work to play nickel? I’m going to play nickel. It doesn’t matter where I’m at on the field, I just have to play. I love making plays at any position.”
Now, the self-proclaimed freak will be heading to San Francisco, looking to back up the words he put out there during the draft process.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Drake Jackson
Before the draft, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com scouted Jackson and compared him to former 2015 third-round pick, Eli Harold. He said Jackson is going to struggle against stronger tackles within the NFL but there is a ton of room for development over the next couple of years. Going up against the run could be an issue too but Zierlein is an overall fan.
“Jackson lacks play strength but has the frame to add muscle and mass,” Zierlein said. “He’s a loose-limbed, restless pass rusher with the activity level to find angles and openings in both his primary and secondary rush. However, he lacks successful counters to do it consistently against stronger tackles. Jackson also lacks the take-on toughness and functional anchor needed to hold up at the point on run downs. He has developmental rush potential, but needs a major upgrade in grit and technique against the run.”