Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DE Landon Jackson

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive end Landon Jackson from Arkansas.

DE
Arkansas Razorbacks
Senior
4-star recruit
6’6”
264 lbs

Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History

Landon Jackson, born on January 2, 2003, in Texarkana, Texas, attended Pleasant Grove High School. While in high school he amassed over 45 career sacks, including 17 during his junior year, earning him the Texas Sports Writers Association 4A Defensive Player of the Year award.

In 2021, Jackson began his collegiate career at LSU, appearing in five games primarily on special teams. Seeking better opportunities and playing time, he transferred to Arkansas in 2022.

In his first year with the Razorbacks, Jackson played in all 13 games. Despite transitioning to a new system, he made an immediate impact, recording 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. His ability to disrupt plays in the backfield and contribute against both the run and pass earned him increased playing time as the season progressed. One of his standout performances came against BYU, where he registered a season-high five tackles and one sack.

Jackson’s junior year in 2023 marked a significant progression. He started all 12 games, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, earning First-Team All-SEC honors. He delivered an outstanding performance against Alabama, registering a career-high with 11 tackles, four sacks, and four tackles for a loss, which earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Entering his senior season in 2024, Jackson continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess, leading the Razorbacks in both sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10). He also added 49 total tackles, and three pass deflections. His performance earned him Second-Team All-SEC recognition. Following the regular season, Jackson participated in the Senior Bowl, where he recorded two tackles and a strip-sack, further showcasing his readiness to play in the NFL.

2024 Statistics

645 Defensive Snaps
49 Total Tackles
10 Tackles For Loss
7 Missed Tackles
33 Defensive Stops
35 Total Pressures
6.5 Sacks
3 Pass Breakups
1 Forced Fumble
1 Fumble Recovery
5 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day

10-Yard Split- 1.65s (72%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.68s (90%)
Vertical- 40.5” (98%)
Broad- 129” (99%)
3C- 7.13s (82%) PD
Shuttle- 4.55s (46%) PD

Awards

Second-team All-SEC (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2023)

Scorecard

Overall- 86.7
Speed- 86
Acceleration- 76
Agility- 79
Strength- 90
Tackling- 79
Pass Rush- 72
Run Defense- 89
Coverage- 76
Discipline- 90

THE GOOD

• A high-motor player that never gives up on the play.
• Demonstrates good block recognition, maintaining discipline when unblocked.
• Has an extremely strong anchor against the run, effectively holding the point of attack.
• Has elite hand power and length which enables him to reset the line of scrimmage and control blocks.
• Employs active hands and utilizes moves such as the cross-chop and long-arm to defeat blockers.
• Very effective at stunting which adds versatility to his pass-rushing.
• Has a huge wingspan which allows him to engage and disengage from blockers efficiently, while his frame suggests room for additional growth if necessary.
• His reach is also seen when grabbing onto ball carriers that think they’ve cleared him.
• Jackson’s ability to play in multiple defensive fronts showcases his diverse skill set.

THE BAD

• Jackson does not consistently win with speed around the edge.
• Due to his height, Jackson sometimes struggles with maintaining consistent leverage, which can diminish his effectiveness in both pass rush and run defense.
• Pad level is an issue and is extremely inconsistent here.
• Lacks a go-to move to disengage from blockers.
• His bull rush is underwhelming for his size, often due to his pad level issues.
• Only average bend at the top of his arc in his pass rush.
• Very stiff as a pass rusher.

THE FIT

Landon Jackson’s blend of size, strength, and developing technique positions him as a promising prospect in this year’s draft class. He possesses an impressive frame, long arms (33¼ inches), and a solid wingspan (82¾ inches), making him an ideal fit for an edge rusher in either an odd or even front. He’s a high-effort, high-floor defensive end prospect with strong run defense skills and solid pass-rushing potential.

If he can improve his get-off, pass-rush repertoire, and flexibility, he has the potential to develop into a dependable three-down defensive end at the NFL level. He is projected as a second-round pick with the potential to become a reliable contributor in both run defense and pass-rushing situations.

Jackson would be a strong fit for the Dallas Cowboys, given their need for additional depth and versatility along the defensive line, particularly on the edge. He has the ideal frame and skill set to contribute as a rotational defensive end, particularly in early-down situations where his run-stopping ability could shine.

His ability to set the edge against the run would help improve a Dallas defense that has struggled heavily against physical rushing attacks in the past. While he doesn’t have elite speed off the edge, his length, power, and high motor align well with the Cowboys’ defensive philosophy, and he could develop into a reliable rotational player with starter upside. With coaching, refining his pass-rush moves could make him a valuable Day 2 selection, giving Dallas a long-term piece for their defensive end situation.

COMPARISON:

Zach Allen, Denver Broncos

BTB GRADE:

54th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

44th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)