Jordan Jackson had a terrific training camp and preseason to earn a spot on the Denver Broncos in 2024. Will he be able to do the same this season?
The competition for the sixth and final spot at defensive line for the Denver Broncos will be one of the most heated battles during training camp.
Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, and third round draft selection Sai’vion Jones are poised to be the Broncos’ top five defensive linemen. Last season, the team carried six defensive linemen, and I expect they will do so again in 2025. That leaves just one spot up for grabs with a handful of players vying for it.
One of those players is former Air Force Falcon Jordan Jackson. Originally a sixth-round draft selection of the New Orleans Saints in 2022, Jackson was a practice squad player for Saints as a rookie in the National Football League. In 2023, the Broncos he signed with the Broncos and earned a spot on their practice squad for continued development.
In 2024, Jackson finally experienced a full season under the bright lights. After an impressive performance in training camp and preseason games, he earned a spot Broncos’ final 53-man roster in 2024 and played all 17 regular season games. This past offseason, the franchise brought him back as an exclusive-rights free agent to compete for a backup role in ‘25.
Two defensive series, two sacks for Jordan Jackson.
: CBS | #AZvsDEN pic.twitter.com/1utlnLplip
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 25, 2024
Player Profile
Age: 27 | Experience: 2nd Year | College: Air Force | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 294 pounds
Arm Length: 34” | Hand Size: 9-3/8” | Broad: 9’4” | Vertical: 30-1/2” | Bench Press: 18 reps
40-yard dash: 4.96 seconds | Short Shuttle: 4.4 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.20 seconds
Jordan Jackson’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos
Given the depth of the Broncos’ defensive line, there aren’t many spots realistically up for grabs. Barring some unforeseen circumstances, the five mentioned above are locks for the final roster. The battle for the sixth and final spot on the defensive line likely comes down to two players—Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike.
Last season, Jackson was a game day active for every matchup. As a reserve player he had 17 tackles, 1 sack, and one force fumble. Overall, he saw 310 snaps on defense (27-percent) and 164 snaps (35-percent) on special teams. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded him out as the 194th out of 219 defensive linemen with a 40.5 overall grade.
Those production numbers and grade aren’t enthusiastic endorsements of his performance. In fact, they may just suggest Jackson is one of the backup players from last year’s squad with the most to prove in order to stick on the final roster.
Final Thoughts
As I wrote in my positional review for the defensive line, I believe the sixth and final spot comes down to Jackson versus Uwazurike. It’s a coinflip situation with each having their own pros and cons relative to their skillsets and what they bring to the table. Though I might consider giving the former Iowa State standout a slight lead before camp sessions take flight.
After being reinstated to the league in August, Uwazurike played in just four games compared to Jackson’s seventeen. In far less snaps, he didn’t lag too far behind relative to production and notched 11 tackles. In case you were wondering, PFF also had him graded a lot higher in a much smaller sample size.
Jackson boasts great athleticism and has improved since entering the NFL in ‘22. I’d argue he has more potential and upside as pass rusher. However, Uwazurike’s size [6’6” and 315 pounds] and better run defense might be preferable. I’m not sure how it will shake out, but this is definitely one of the top battles to watch over the course of training camp and the preseason.