The Kansas City Chiefs already needed to reinforce the defensive line this offseason. A couple of additions to that unit could very well come via the 2025 NFL Draft. However, due to their early moves in free agency, Kansas City appears very interested in tapping into this year's deep defensive line draft class.
The Chiefs saw their pass rush run cold through stretches of last season. George Karlaftis finished strong among defensive ends, but it was a bit of a mixed bag for Mike Danna. After returning from injury, Charles Omenihu was up and down before the postseason.
Kansas City may very well look for more production and consistency from its defensive ends in 2025. This year's draft class is filled with a good balance of speed rushers and physical specimens. However, with the Chiefs and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, we know they will generally favor size and potential power when drafting defensive linemen. Landon Jackson from Arkansas could be a prototype defender that Spagnuolo may enjoy inserting into his defense.
What positives does Jackson offer for a team like the Chiefs? Could Kansas City look for him to contribute as a rookie?
2025 NFL Draft Profile- Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Age: 22 (when drafted)
Height: 6'6''
Weight: 264 pounds
Landon Jackson's strengths
When you watch Landon Jackson, the power in his hands and punches jumps out immediately. With that hand power, his most effective pass rush moves appear to be a quick, swift chop move and a long-arm move. He is not going to be mistaken for the most athletic defensive lineman on his unit.
However, his overall showing at the NFL Scouting Combine still offered some splash compared to what his tape showed. He is not completely lacking athletically, even if it is not a stellar part of his game. That pairs well with his versatility. Arkansas used him in different alignments from time to time. Overall, Jackson has the ability to overpower guards and force them into making wrong decisions.
Elsewhere, Jackson displays an extremely instinctive style of play. He finds the football immediately after the snap. It was noticeable how disciplined he remained when opponents used RPO or mesh concepts. He largely held his ground and did not get too far upfield or overpursue the ball. That translates further to Jackson being firm when setting the edge. His mix of effort, motor, and technique as a run defender will help his chances on early downs at the NFL level.
Landon Jackson's weaknesses
Even with some impressive NFL Scouting Combine testing results, Jackson is stiff in his lower half—there is no denying that. And even at his size, there is not as much consistent explosiveness coming off the line of scrimmage as one might anticipate. Most notably, the slowness of Jackson getting around an offensive tackle's outside shoulder is a key hurdle.
Jackson does not necessarily offer a deep set of pass rush moves or counters in his repertoire. He generally sticks with a few go-to moves, and in some cases, he appears too eager to try to outmuscle blockers with his mass. In addition, the hand placement of his punches will need to be fine-tuned as he develops at the NFL level. Finally, Jackson relies so much on winning with power that he hardly attacks opponents with speed or quickness.
Does Landon Jackson make sense for the Chiefs?
If the Chiefs lose Omenihu in free agency, Jackson could fill a similar role on the Kansas City defensive line. His play style may be different from the veteran’s. However, occasionally reducing and shading inside while still being a firm setter on the edge makes for a comparable replacement. Jackson's power, size, length, and instincts are likely the traits that would make him a fit with the Chiefs. Kansas City will look for possible refinement early on if they land him.
But even with more development needed, it is easy to imagine Jackson being a heavily used rotational piece for Kansas City. They can look for their trenches to be physical and tenacious while still getting younger and reshaping the trenches. And with the amount of experience he offers entering the NFL, Jackson can chip in via a variety of ways.
Jackson makes sense for the Chiefs in April's draft as a player who offers some raw talent while still adding to the hard edge that K.C. wants to play with. And if Kansas City can get him to impact the pass rush, Jackson still opens up more opportunities for names like Chris Jones and Karlaftis.
manual