2021 NFL Draft: Iowa offensive lineman Alaric Jackson scouting report

2021 NFL Draft scouting report on Iowa offensive lineman Alaric Jackson

Iowa offensive tackle Alaric Jackson is never going to be mentioned as one of the top offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft class. That being said, he has been a four-year starting left tackle at one of the best offensive line factories in the nation. He undoubtedly deserves our attention through the 2021 NFL Draft process.

Nobody is going to say that Jackson is as good of a prospect as his former Iowa teammate Tristan Wirfs, but he is an interesting player who does have a path to success at the next level. Let’s dig into his game.

Alaric Jackson, OL, Iowa

Class: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 315 pounds

Jackson was a three-star prospect out of Detroit, Michigan, but despite his less-than-exciting star ranking, Jackson did get some nice offers from around the country. He chose to join the Hawkeyes, despite also receiving offers from other strong Big Ten schools, namely Michigan and Wisconsin.

Jackson did not see any on-field action and redshirted in 2016, his first year on the Iowa campus. However, he did make a massive impact early in his career, taking over as the Hawkeyes’ starting left tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2017. Jackson has held onto that job ever since. Jackson was a freshman All-American in 2017, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media in 2018 and third-team All-Big Ten in 2019.

The Iowa product is a big and strong offensive tackle who shows impressive initial quickness and solid movement skills in space. He is also extremely strong at the point of attack and is a coordinator athlete who does a nice job of maintaining his balance through contact.

Jackson is a dominant run blocker whose initial quickness typically gives him the advantage. He also displays a strong initial punch and shows fantastic grip strength throughout the block. Once Jackson gets his hands on the defender in the run game, it is typically game over.

In pass protection, Jackson can be susceptible to speed on the outside. He does not mirror opposing edge rushers particularly well, but his ability to sink in and anchor against power does stand out. Similar to when he is run blocking, Jackson will typically dominate when he gets his hands on the defender.

Jackson does lack ideal length for an offensive tackle prospect, and the struggles to mirror opposing edge rushers when on an island on the outside is a massive concern. That being said, he is impressive when he is allowed to play forward and attack. Jackson is a much better offensive lineman when he is allowed to be aggressive. Setting into a pass set and pass protecting as an offensive tackle is a more passive movement that Jackson struggles with.

With this in mind, I would immediately move Jackson inside at the next level and make him a full-time offensive guard. We have seen NFL teams have success with this move with Iowa offensive linemen in the past, most notably, Marshal Yanda with the Baltimore Ravens and Brandon Scherff of the Washington Football Team.

Both Yanda and Scherff shined at left tackle for the Hawkeyes, but immediately moved inside at the next level and became elite NFL offensive guards. I am not saying that Jackson is going to be as good as Yanda or Scherff, but his shorter arms do fit better on the inside and he would be able to consistently play forward and aggressive on the inside.

Overall, there is a lot to like about Jackson as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect. He was a good college offensive tackle but does have athletic limitations for the next level. That being said, if a team targets him and commits to a full-time move to guard, Jackson could become a high-level contributor quickly and for a long time.