Very few people took better advantage of having a super senior season than Theo Jackson. After spending years as a utility defensive back, he became the full-time starter at nickel for Tennessee football and emerged as one of their top producers. In the process, he became a legitimate pro prospect that didn’t seem likely before.
That wasn’t enough to earn Jackson an NFL Combine invite, though so he’ll have to go off of production alone to sell himself for the draft. His best case beyond production is versatility, as he played nickel last year but spent most of his time at safety before that.
Taking that into account, our breakdown of the best places for him to end up will be based on teams that have glaring needs for both a safety and a cornerback. Similar to Cade Mays, teams that have multiple needs in the overall position Jackson plays will be best for him. Here are the five best pro landing spots for the Tennessee football defensive back.
Lost NFC Wildcard round
The focus will be on a pass rush and weapons at wide receiver early for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they have a need for a cornerback and a safety, as they need to bolster depth at both positions. That makes them a great landing spot for Jackson since he can play both roles and bolster their depth in multiple ways.
It’s likely Philly will look at both positions in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, and if Jackson is taken, that’s when it’ll be. In fact, Philly could sign Jackson as an undrafted free agent, as that’s the route they might want to take when trying to find more secondary depth.
Former Tennessee football defensive players have made a name for themselves with the Eagles, but they have usually been on the defensive line with guys like Derek Barnett, Darwin Walker, and of course, Reggie White. Could Jackson start a tradition there in the secondary? It wouldn’t be a bad place for him to land.