With only five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft (tied with Atlanta and Washington for the fewest in the league), the Vikings didn’t have much work to do in order to finish off their rookie class signings. Regardless, they’re the first to get it done this offseason. 
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Minnesota came to terms with first-round guard Donovan Jackson, closing out the signing process for their rookies. The four-year deal (with a fifth-year option) is fully guaranteed for $17.18MM and will include a $9.42MM signing bonus. After the conclusion of his rookie season, he’ll also earn training camp roster bonuses of $616K in 2026, $1.28MM in 2027, and $1MM in 2028.
During his time at Ohio State, Jackson spent time at both guard and tackle. He started at left guard for the Buckeyes in his sophomore and junior years. When Josh Simmons suffered a midseason patellar tendon tear last year, Jackson slid out to left tackle for the remaining nine games of the season. Jackson put himself on the NFL radar after earning second-team All-Big Ten acclaim in his first season as a starter and first-team honors the next year. He upped the stakes with first-team All-American honors last season, helping Ohio State to a College Football Playoff championship.
With their only decent interior offensive line play last year coming from Dalton Risner, now a free agent, the Vikings worked to seriously upgrade their guard and centers spots, bringing in former Colts Will Fries and Ryan Kelly at guard and center, respectively. Jackson is projected to slot in opposite Fries in order to form a completely new interior for Minnesota.
With their rookie class complete, here’s a look at the five first-year players that the Vikings drafted:
- Round 1, No. 24: Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 102 (from Lions through Jaguars and Texans)*: Tai Felton (WR, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 139 (from Browns): Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DT, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 201 (from Rams): Kobe King (LB, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 202 (from Texans through Steelers, Bears and Rams): Gavin Bartholomew (TE, Pittsburgh) (signed)