Former Oregon and Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson will look to begin his professional career, after the Maryland native was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 108th overall pick in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday. Jackson transferred to Oregon after two years in Tuscaloosa and shone, leading the Ducks in interceptions and passes defensed in his lone year in Eugene.
He projects as an lanky, competitive option against professional receivers — his ability to reach under-thrown balls before receivers showed up in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship game, where his third-quarter interception gave the Ducks a fighting chance. At the next level, he’ll be asked to compete with receivers who have that same ability, and refine the tendency to draw flags that he showed in college.
In three years of FBS football, Jackson racked up 48 total tackles and three interceptions, but his year with Oregon was undoubtedly the best of them: just last year, he snagged all of those picks and wrapped up 34 to boost his tackle total. The Vikings have studs in the secondary, including Akayleb Evans and Harrison Smith. He’s not a one-hit wonder, but training camp and preseason will prove whether he can hang with the best.
