Jonah Jackson has played with the Detroit Lions during each of his four NFL seasons. However, the former offensive lineman for Ohio State is now free agent, as of Monday.
Jackson and the Los Angeles Rams have reached an agreement, according Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. According to Garafolo, Jackson agreed to a $51 million, three-year contract that included a $34 million guarantee.
The Lions selected Jackson with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Jackson started as a rookie and participated in almost every game during his NFL career, swiftly establishing himself as an important member of Detroit’s offensive line. Jackson helped the Lions make their first trip back to the NFL playoffs since 2016 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
A Media, Pennsylvania native, Jackson was a two-year starter at Rutgers and played both guard and center for the Scarlet Knights. Jackson started six games at center for Rutgers in 2017. The following year, he was a starter at guard in all 12 games for the Scarlet Knights and was named honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media for his performances. With Jackson on the offensive line, Rutgers ranked second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally, with only 1.33 sacks allowed per game. In addition to his play, Jackson was named a captain in his final year at Rutgers.
Jackson came to the Buckeyes as a graduate transfer during the 2019 offseason. He chose the Scarlet and Gray over offers from both Oklahoma and Texas and was important for Ohio State to help fill out the offensive line in 2019.
The former Scarlet Knights player enrolled at Ohio State in June and was the Buckeyes’ starting left guard by the time the season began in the fall. He was part of one of the best offensive line units in the country that paved the way for running back J.K. Dobbins‘ record-breaking season and kept Heisman Trophy finalist Justin Fields upright throughout most of the year.
In Los Angeles, Jackson could reunite with former Scarlet and Gray teammate Jordan Fuller. Fuller has been the starting safety for the Rams since his rookie season, yet he is also a free agent this offseason. Reports have indicated that LA will likely let Fuller hit the open market.
The Rams come off a surprising 10-7 season in 2023, a year in which the franchise began a rebuild after taking on massive money in an effort to win Super Bowl LVI in 2022. Yet Los Angeles made it to the playoffs, losing to Jackson and the Lions in the Wild Card round.
Buy your Amon-Ra St. Brown stock now. James Jones is.
The former star Trojan and Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver was tabbed by the NFL Network analyst Jones, a Super Bowl champion receiver with the Green Bay Packers, as his pick for the most under-rated rookie receiver in 2021.
“Well mine is USC standout to the Detroit Lions, and that is Amon-Ra St. Brown. Listen, this dude is going to the Detroit Lions with Jared Goff. No. 1 they are going to be playing (from) behind in a lot of games,” Jones said. “So that means you’re going to have to throw the ball to make some plays. This guy is an excellent route runner to go up and make plays, and make some tough catches. He will get a lot of targets and a lot of opportunities to be able to show what he can do. I think he’s going to have a big year.”
St. Brown was taken with the No. 112 overall pick in the fourth round.
The Lions were an ideal landing spot for St. Brown with an experienced QB in Jared Goff, a new premier left tackle (Penei Sewell) and a franchise lacking high-end skill players at receiver. Marvin Jones Jr., who signed with Jacksonville in the offseason, led the franchise in 2020 with 76 receptions for 980 yards and nine scores. He will wear No. 14 in his first season. St. Brown reportedly played both inside and outside during Lions minicamp
The 2021 NFL Draft was incredibly deep at wide receiver, pushing St. Brown down the draft order NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah pegged the former five-star prospect as a future impact player in the NFL going into the draft.
“I think (he’s) going to be a day-two receiver,” Jeremiah said, “(He) was a hyped up kid coming out of high school. Played at Mater Dei in Orange County that powerhouse program, and he’s been a stud since he got to USC. All the big plays that need to be made, he can go up the ladder climb up and get it. He’s tough after the catch, and I like how competitive he was as a blocker. Pop on the Arizona State tape if you want to see that.”
In just six games last season, due to the shortened COVID-19 football season, St. Brown finished with 41 catches, 478 yards, seven touchdowns and 11.7 yards per catch. In three seasons with USC (30 games), St. Brown finished his collegiate career with 178 catches, 2,270 yards, 16 touchdowns, 12.8 yards per catch and one rushing touchdown.
