Landon Jackson NFL Draft Hub: Scouting Report, Player Profile, Projection, and More

Arkansas Razorbacks edge rusher Landon Jackson enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most toolsy defenders in the class.

Since the moment he stepped onto a college football field, Jackson’s physical traits were apparent. As he developed over his time in college, he now figures to be an early-round pick.

Landon Jackson’s Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 6’6″
• Weight: 264 pounds
• Position: Edge Rusher
• School: Arkansas
• Current Year: Senior

Jackson’s Scouting Report

Jackson attended Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, a town just along the border between Texas and Arkansas. He was a four-star recruit as an edge rusher coming out of high school, and he ended up committing to LSU to play college football.

Having suffered a knee injury in his senior year of high school, Jackson was slowly brought into the fold of LSU’s roster in 2021. He didn’t take any defensive snaps, though he did play on 45 special teams reps. After not putting any numbers in the stat sheet, he entered the transfer portal after his true freshman year.

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Prior to the 2022 season, Jackson committed to Arkansas and saw his playing time increase. He played in all 13 games, starting in seven games. He finished his sophomore year with 23 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

As a junior, Jackson was able to step into a full-time starting role in the Razorbacks’ defense. He improved his production, tallying 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss in 12 games in a first-team All-SEC season.

Though he had generated some NFL buzz near the end of his junior year, Jackson ultimately decided to return to Arkansas for his senior season.

The decision to return to school proved to be helpful for Jackson, as he jumped from 22 quarterback pressures in 2023 to 35 in 2024. He finished with 6.5 sacks again, adding on 10 tackles for a loss and adding a second-team All-SEC nod to his resume.

Strengths

• Put up elite explosion numbers at the Combine, with a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9 broad jump at 264 pounds.
• Massive edge rusher prospect with long arms, big hands and a frame that carries his weight very well.
• Productive defender who succeeded at the SEC level.
• Has the strength and length needed to kick inside as a defensive tackle on subpackages if called upon to do so.
• Long arms make it easier for him to keep offensive tackles away from his chest.
• Offers impressive raw strength that’s proportioned well throughout his frame.
• Rushes with a high motor in pursuit, as he demonstrates relentlessness when engaged in contact at the line of scrimmage.
• Pass-rushing arsenal improved the more time he spent in college.
• Demonstrates proper finesse rushing the passer with cross-chops, swims and rips.
• Explosive edge rusher, especially for one as big as he is.
• Slippery rusher who does a good job of subtly dipping his shoulder to squeeze past offensive tackles when working across their body.
• Rangy defender in space due to his size, length and straight-line athleticism.

Weaknesses

• High-hipped edge rusher with below-average bend.
• Doesn’t turn the corner very well, as he naturally has a higher center of gravity and doesn’t generate much flexion out of his lower half.
• Inability to consistently be the lower man hurts his balance when he’s engaged in blocks, making him inconsistent setting the edge in the run game.
• Lack of lower-body flexion makes it tougher for him to convert speed to power as a pass-rusher.
• Doesn’t change direction super well in space, leaving him more susceptible to getting juked out when he’s trying to make the tackle in the open field.
• Agility as a defender on stunts is just okay.

Current Draft Projection and Summary

If you built an NFL edge rusher in a lab, he would be built a lot like Landon Jackson.

Big, strong, chiseled and lengthy, Jackson looks the part of an early-round NFL Draft pick before you even turn on the tape. He has done a great job of adding healthy weight to his frame over the course of his collegiate career, and his long arms and big hands give him an advantage at the point of attack.

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Jackson is a quick edge rusher with impressive raw power, refined hands and a high motor. His production at the SEC level is nothing to sneeze at, and given his demeanor on the field, he seems like a player who should be able to take advantage of his physical traits in the pros.

Granted, it might take him a little while to do so. A lot of Jackson’s issues stem from his high center of gravity, as it affects his pad level, his flexibility turning the corner and his balance at the point of attack. There will likely be growing pains for him in his rookie year, making a full-time starting role unlikely right out of the gate.

Due to some of his limitations, Jackson feels like more of a Day 2 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft than a slam-dunk first-round pick. That said, he has some of the most tantalizing physical tools in this deep edge rusher class. If he falls out of Round 1, he shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called.