49ers roster: 5 rookies who are under the most pressure in training camp
By Peter Panacy
49ers rookie No. 2: EDGE Drake Jackson
One could argue San Francisco’s top pick from the 2022 draft, former USC EDGE Drake Jackson, should be experiencing the most pressure out of any first-year pro on the team’s roster.
The 49ers’ first pick? The highest expectations, right?
Not necessarily. The Niners already have one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers in Nick Bosa, and the team as a whole collected 48 sacks last season, good enough to tie for fifth most in the league despite not having a true No. 2 complementary option to Bosa and in light of fellow EDGE Dee Ford missing the bulk of 2021 with a back injury.
Jackson should be viewed as a solid option to deliver more than Ford, at least in terms of availability, yet it’ll likely take some time for the 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass-rusher to develop into an all-around player. With only 12.5 sacks over his three-year collegiate tenure, and the reality USC played him in a variety of roles during that span, Jackson is one of those players who’ll need plenty of refinement and polish.
A so-so year in 2022 might be of notable concern, but it’s not a disaster considering this.
However, given the fact San Francisco places so much emphasis on its defensive line and used its first pick of the draft on him, Jackson will need to flash all that promise during camp regardless.