Iowa Football: Which Hawkeyes should declare for the NFL Draft
By Matt Opad
The overshadowed man on the line has an NFL career ahead of him
Alaric Jackson may not have the flash or measurables that Wirfs has, but he definitely has a future in the NFL.
Jackson did not have the same ridiculous video as Wirfs did to jump-start his draft profile. His season was also hampered with an injury that kept him off the field for a few weeks.
When Jackson returned in Ann Arbor, his performance was not what you would expect from a player with first-round draft pick potential.
One game does not typically determine a kid’s future in the league, especially when you consider how difficult it is to win in the Big House.
Additionally, Jackson has the same constraints that Wirfs has. While their individual performances have been good throughout most of the season, the play of the Iowa football offensive line as a unit has left some room for improvement.
Alaric, unlike Wirfs, is not a unanimous first-rounder, according to mock drafts. While Wirfs is widely considered the second-best offensive tackle in this draft class, Alaric Jackson’s status spans a much broader range.
In around half of the mock drafts I’ve seen, Jackson appears as a late first-round draft pick.
Because Jackson was injured for a portion of the season, I do believe he has more to prove with another year than the tackle on the other side.
Should I stay or should I go: Unless Jackson absolutely destroys the combine, I think he is better off staying another year.