Bills 3rd Rnd pick in 2025 Draft : Landon Jackson - DE - Arkansas

[LEBills]

9 minutes ago, Mark92 said:

So they reached big time in the 2nd round but got a steal in the 3rd.  Probably evens out.  

Sanders wasn’t really a reach, and LJ was amazing value

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

49 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Sanders wasn’t really a reach, and LJ was amazing value

 

Several DT's off the board, they wanted their top one in the 2nd.  Why have 10 picks in the draft if you aren't going to move around some?  

[Shaw66]

Sorry, I haven't read this thread, and I'm sure what that some part or all of the answer is in it somewhere, but can someone explain this to me:

 

I know everyone says that Landon Jackson was a steal or a great value in the third round, but that just means that people saying that think he should have been drafted higher. I generally don't buy that argument, because the professional GMs obviously thought other players were greater values. Was Sherdur Sanders a steal for the Browns, or is a fifth round grade actually a measure of how good he is?

 

So, what I want to know is why people think Jackson is so good.  If Bosa weren't in Buffalo, would Jackson take Epenesa's starting role?  I understand that he's tall and athletic.  What else is it about him that makes everyone so excited? Did he dominate SEC offensive tackles?  

[Royale with Cheese]

1 minute ago, Shaw66 said:

Sorry, I haven't read this thread, and I'm sure what that some part or all of the answer is in it somewhere, but can someone explain this to me:

 

I know everyone says that Landon Jackson was a steal or a great value in the third round, but that just means that people saying that think he should have been drafted higher. I generally don't buy that argument, because the professional GMs obviously thought other players were greater values. Was Sherdur Sanders a steal for the Browns, or is a fifth round grade actually a measure of how good he is?

 

So, what I want to know is why people think Jackson is so good.  If Bosa weren't in Buffalo, would Jackson take Epenesa's starting role?  I understand that he's tall and athletic.  What else is it about him that makes everyone so excited? Did he dominate SEC offensive tackles?  

 

With Sanders, it was simply the owners didn't feel he's worth the aggravation for a day 1 or 2 pick.  

So I wouldn't say he was a 5th round steal, he's a "I don't mind wasting a 5th on him, lets see if he changes"

[Shaw66]

8 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

With Sanders, it was simply the owners didn't feel he's worth the aggravation for a day 1 or 2 pick.  

So I wouldn't say he was a 5th round steal, he's a "I don't mind wasting a 5th on him, lets see if he changes"

That makes sense, but I'm interested in Jackson. He didn't fall because he might be a problem like Sanders might, right?

[Prospector]

I'll be honest... his pass rush moves have a very flamboyant flair to them. I thought the same thing about Max Crosby when he came out in the draft(not coming out in that way🤣). I never thought Crosby would be as good as he is, because of how his moves looked feminine somehow... I can't really explain it. But boy was I wrong about Crosby, so this gives me optimism and hope that our dude is going to dominate in the NFL also!  

[Blank Stare]

3 minutes ago, Prospector said:

I'll be honest... his pass rush moves have a very flamboyant flair to them. I thought the same thing about Max Crosby when he came out in the draft(not coming out in that way🤣). I never thought Crosby would be as good as he is, because of how his moves looked feminine somehow... I can't really explain it. But boy was I wrong about Crosby, so this gives me optimism and hope that our dude is going to dominate in the NFL also!  

I was also thinking “damn, this guy reminds me of Max Crosby”. What a haul that would be if he’s anywhere near that. 

[buffaloboyinATL]

8 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

That makes sense, but I'm interested in Jackson. He didn't fall because he might be a problem like Sanders might, right?

He was originally projected in the 2nd round, so slipping to the top of the 3rd round  was not much of a slide. I think his not getting picked sooner, was more about teams evaluating value at positions of needs at the time of their pick, etc.  

 

He was already pretty productive at Arkansas, but I believe he is still considered a raw prospect in many ways who needs to continue to develop counter moves, get comfortable with his recently added weight etc. It is his potential upside that makes people say he is a great value in the 3rd round, because If he hits his full potential, he would be a first round player.

 

We all know that there is no guarantee that he will reach that potential, but even his current production (6.5 sacks last year, 2nd team all SEC etc) combined with his elite combine performance, make him worth the pick, in my opinion.  It is if and when he gets closer to his ceiling that he will become a true "steal".

[2003Contenders]

3 minutes ago, buffaloboyinATL said:

He was originally projected in the 2nd round, so slipping to the top of the 3rd round  was not much of a slide. I think his not getting picked sooner, was more about teams evaluating value at positions of needs at the time of their pick, etc.  

 

He was already pretty productive at Arkansas, but I believe he is still considered a raw prospect in many ways who needs to continue to develop counter moves, get comfortable with his recently added weight etc. It is his potential upside that makes people say he is a great value in the 3rd round, because If he hits his full potential, he would be a first round player.

 

We all know that there is no guarantee that he will reach that potential, but even his current production (6.5 sacks last year, 2nd team all SEC etc) combined with his elite combine performance, make him worth the pick, in my opinion.  It is if and when he gets closer to his ceiling that he will become a true "steal".

Yes.

 

The biggest knock on Jackson appears to be that he was wildly inconsistent -- he would rack up multiple sacks in one game and then be MIA the next. Similar to some of the issues we have seen with Groot. Kiper referenced this at the time of the selection.  Hopefully the coaching staff can get the most out of him.

[GunnerBill]

30 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

That makes sense, but I'm interested in Jackson. He didn't fall because he might be a problem like Sanders might, right?

 

I said it up thread, but appreciate that it is a lot to wade through.... part of it is scheme fit. I think he has to play in a 4 man front that use bigger ends at the 5 and the 7. I think right now there are more 3-4 teams given the proliferation of Fangio copycat defenses knocking about and even among the 4-3s there are some teams - like Houston and Cleveland that run a lot more wide 9 concept stuff where you want your ends to be fast and bendy. 

 

In fact rather than me repeating it I've found the link to the earlier post:

 

 

[Royale with Cheese]

43 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

That makes sense, but I'm interested in Jackson. He didn't fall because he might be a problem like Sanders might, right?

 

Not sure.

 

I wish I could be a fly on the wall in every GM's/Scouting Meetings.  Would like to see how close Teams draft boards are.  You have your top picks that are pretty much consensus but outside, I would say top 8....how different are these evaluations?

[gonzo1105]

23 hours ago, 947 said:

I was not happy when Beane traded both 2nd rounders to move up. But then when you realize we would've taken Landon Jackson with one of those 2nd rounders anyway, it worked out perfectly.

The one thing I have noticed from Beane over the years is he is very determined to have a pick in every round. I knew somehow we’d end up with one.

 

That trade clearly indicates how badly the Bills wanted TJ Sanders but they didn’t want him badly enough at the expense of both 2nd rounders without getting back that 3rd and 7th. 
 

I do believe that Beane was telling the truth about Jackson being the 62nd pick if they still had it but I am curious who they would have taken at 72 if he was off the board 

[Jauronimo]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I said it up thread, but appreciate that it is a lot to wade through.... part of it is scheme fit. I think he has to play in a 4 man front that use bigger ends at the 5 and the 7. I think right now there are more 3-4 teams given the proliferation of Fangio copycat defenses knocking about and even among the 4-3s there are some teams - like Houston and Cleveland that run a lot more wide 9 concept stuff where you want your ends to be fast and bendy. 

 

In fact rather than me repeating it I've found the link to the earlier post:

 

 

I've heard some YouTube scouts talk about how Arkansas often played 3 down linemen and there wasn't a lot of defensive talent around him which limited his production.   Think that plays into him being available in the 4th?

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, Jauronimo said:

I've heard some YouTube scouts talk about how Arkansas often played 3 down linemen and there wasn't a lot of defensive talent around him which limited his production.   Think that plays into him being available in the 4th?

 

He was taken in the third. But yes. I think the unusual skillset and Arkansas' inability to always use it effectively played in. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, buffaloboyinATL said:

He was originally projected in the 2nd round, so slipping to the top of the 3rd round  was not much of a slide. I think his not getting picked sooner, was more about teams evaluating value at positions of needs at the time of their pick, etc.  

 

He was already pretty productive at Arkansas, but I believe he is still considered a raw prospect in many ways who needs to continue to develop counter moves, get comfortable with his recently added weight etc. It is his potential upside that makes people say he is a great value in the 3rd round, because If he hits his full potential, he would be a first round player.

 

We all know that there is no guarantee that he will reach that potential, but even his current production (6.5 sacks last year, 2nd team all SEC etc) combined with his elite combine performance, make him worth the pick, in my opinion.  It is if and when he gets closer to his ceiling that he will become a true "steal".

Thank for this. Great summary of what makes him interesting. Sort of great upside with a floor that means he's probably still going to be useful.  

 

Appreciate it. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I said it up thread, but appreciate that it is a lot to wade through.... part of it is scheme fit. I think he has to play in a 4 man front that use bigger ends at the 5 and the 7. I think right now there are more 3-4 teams given the proliferation of Fangio copycat defenses knocking about and even among the 4-3s there are some teams - like Houston and Cleveland that run a lot more wide 9 concept stuff where you want your ends to be fast and bendy. 

 

In fact rather than me repeating it I've found the link to the earlier post:

 

 

Thanks for this.  Really good stuff.  

 

It makes me think of something I've been noticing lately. The Bills have a really good, solid roster. They have no holes. They have some positions they'd like to improve, for sure, but no holes. Beane and McDermott have built the team like this, year after year, and (but for the disruption of last season's housecleaning) it's gotten to the point where there is nothing to be truly concerned about. 

 

And that means that when the draft comes, when you have the DT group you have, you can be more comfortable betting on the upside guys like Sanders and Jackson and Walker bring.  Having a strong roster to begin frees you a little in the draft to go after the sleeper special player. 

Edited April 30 by Shaw66

[Ralonzo]

Matchup I'd be looking forward to at training camp, if I was going to training camp, is:

 

Jackson's ace rush is the long-arm stab to the chest followed by either a chop or swim. Dawkins ace technique is his own shnow-chop versus the long-arm.

[Turk71]

On 4/25/2025 at 6:58 PM, K-9 said:

Yes! We finally got our Ted Hendricks!

The Mad Stork !

[BigAl2526]

The labels "reach" and "steal" are connected to preconceived notions about what draft values are.  Every media observer and every team have their own criteria for rating the value of draft prospects.  TJ Sanders has been called a "reach" by some highly visible sports pundits, but they don't know what criteria the Bills used to judge Sanders as meriting a trade up.  Jackson has been viewed as a "steal," but every team in the league passed on a chance to draft him earlier than where Buffalo picked him in the third round.  NFL teams all have larger scouting departments and more collective experience at their craft than any media pundit.  It's true, sometimes teams make mistakes.  Brandon Beane has made a number of them.  Scouting is still an inexact science, after all.  The bottom line is that while we all have things we like or dislike about the players Buffalo has drafted, and where in the draft Buffalo took them, there is no substitute for a year or three in the league for making evaluations of Buffalo's drafting acumen for Landon Jackson and his fellow prospects.

[Low Positive]

@DrDawkinstein said something positive about a Bills draftee. He had better be careful lest he be branded with that scarlet H.