With the 103rd overall pick and the third overall selection in the fourth round, the New York Jets have selected defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. out of Florida State.
Jackson is the first interior defensive lineman taken by Gang Green in this year’s draft and the third defensive player selected by the team after David Bailey at No. 2 and D’Angelo Ponds at No. 50.
Jackson is a big player, standing at 6-foot-5 and over 300 pounds. He is expected to compete with the recently acquired T’Vondre Sweat at the nose tackle position this year. His 35″ arms are considered elite measurables for his kind of stature.
“I’m bringing physicality to the run game and I can push the pocket and get to the quarterback,” Jackson said. “I know they have a plan for me. Just bringing that physicality. It’s going to be great.”
The nephew of Super Bowl XXXVII MVP safety Dexter Jackson, the Florida State product was fifth in the country in run stops in 2025 and ninth in pressure rate among defensive tackles in 2024.
His big issue, though, was his consistency. He wasn’t as productive as his measurables showed, and could have gone higher had he not suffered a groin injury during the pre-draft process.
New York wasn’t deterred, though, selecting him with their first pick on Day 3.
