Landon Jackson 2025 NFL Draft: Arkansas EDGE Scouting Report
In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, Landon Jackson is a solid edge rusher to keep on your radar. He’s a physical edge defender from Arkansas with intriguing upside in the NFL. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Landon Jackson 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jackson came out of Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, as a highly touted four-star recruit with a reputation for physical dominance. After a brief stint at LSU, where he saw limited action (five games, no recorded stats), he transferred to Arkansas in 2022. Since then, he’s developed into a cornerstone of the Razorbacks’ defense, earning First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023 and establishing himself as a potential early-round NFL Draft prospect. Known for his relentless motor and imposing frame, Jackson has been a disruptive force in the SEC, though his game still has rough edges.
Furthermore, Jackson profiles as a Day 2 pick with a high floor and a moderate ceiling. His size, run defense, and effort make him a safe bet to contribute early as a rotational lineman, but his pass-rush limitations cap his immediate upside as a three-down player. With coaching and development, particularly in expanding his pass-rush moves and improving his flexibility, he could settle into a reliable starter role within 2-3 years.
HT: 6060
WT: 264
40: 4.68
ARM: 3238
Strengths:
- Physical Tools & Frame: At his size, Jackson looks like a prototype strongside defensive end carved out of granite. His length disrupts passing lanes and allows him to stack blockers with ease. He has room to add more mass without losing effectiveness, which could make him a 5-technique option in odd fronts or a base end in even fronts.
- Run Defense: This is Jackson’s bread and butter. He sets the edge with authority, using his long arms to keep blockers at bay and his anchor to hold ground against double teams. He shows good awareness in diagnosing plays, shedding blocks efficiently, and funneling runners back inside to linebackers. His tape against Texas A&M (2023) and Tennessee (2024) highlights his ability to dominate early downs.
- Hand Usage & Technique: Jackson plays with surprising leverage for a taller defender at the point of attack. His hands are active and violent—his cross-chop and long-arm moves consistently pop on film. He’s got a knack for disengaging from blockers when his initial plan works, showing a solid understanding of hand-fighting fundamentals.
- Motor & Effort: Jackson plays like he’s got a personal vendetta against every ball carrier. His pursuit down the line and second-effort sacks are a testament to his nonstop energy. He’s the kind of player who’ll chase a screen play 20 yards downfield and still make the tackle.
Areas for Improvement:
- Pass-Rush Explosiveness: Jackson lacks a consistent first-step quickness to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. His get-off is more deliberate than twitchy, and he struggles to bend around the edge when facing athletic tackles. Right now, he’s more of a power rusher who wins with technique and persistence rather than raw athleticism.
- Hip Stiffness & Change of Direction: His tall frame comes with some natural rigidity. Jackson’s hips don’t unlock easily, which limits his ability to redirect sharply or chase in space. This shows up when he’s asked to drop into coverage or pursue laterally—he looks mechanical and a half-step slow.
- Pass-Rush Plan Development: While his hand usage is solid, Jackson’s arsenal of moves feels limited. He relies heavily on power and effort rather than a nuanced plan to set up blockers. Against more polished NFL tackles, he’ll need to diversify his approach (e.g., adding a consistent inside counter or spin move) to avoid being stalled at the line.
- Injury History Concerns: Jackson’s durability raises some red flags. He tore his ACL in high school (2018) and broke his ankle in 2020, which impacted his early development. While he’s been mostly healthy at Arkansas, teams will want to dig into his medicals to ensure no lingering issues.
Conclusion:
All in all, Jackson isn’t the flashiest edge rusher in the draft. However, he’s the kind of gritty, dependable player who wins over coaches with his consistency and work ethic. If he lands with a team that values his strengths and invests in his growth, he’ll carve out a solid NFL career.
Jackson projects best as a 4-3 Defensive End (Strongside) or 3-4 OLB in a scheme that emphasizes edge-setting and gap control. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, or New York Jets could maximize his skill set by letting him play to his strengths on early downs while developing his pass-rush repertoire. As a 3-4 OLB in a speed-based system requiring frequent drops into coverage or pure edge speed (e.g., a Vic Fangio-style defense), Jackson’s stiffness would be exposed in space-heavy roles.
Ultimately, similar to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Jackson projects as a high-motor, power-based edge who can set a firm edge in the run game. Meanwhile, offering enough pass-rush juice to be a complementary piece in a rotation. He’s not a double-digit sack guy off raw talent. However, he can get there with effort and refinement. Look for him in round three of the highly anticipated 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | FR |
| 2021* | LSU | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | Arkansas | 13 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Arkansas | 12 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024* | Arkansas | 12 | 27 | 22 | 10 | 6.5 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 42 | 58 | 58 | 28 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
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