Rosters always remain fluid in the NFL, and securing a spot on the final 53-man roster is anything but assured for many players in the coming weeks. One such veteran who might fall victim to a numbers crunch currently suits up in Minnesota, though he could potentially join Jonathan Greenard as a Philadelphia Eagle before long.
Moe Moton with Bleacher Report addressed the topic of the best player from each team who could still be released, targeting a Skol safety about to enter his fifth NFL season.
"Last season, Theo Jackson moved up on the Minnesota Vikings' safety depth chart, playing 60 percent of the team's defensive snaps. After a step forward in his development, Jackson may be less productive as the Vikings' No. 3 safety. He could lose his roster spot if rookie third-rounder Jakobe Thomas shows promising signs in the next phases of the Vikings' offseason program."
Vikings veteran might not be long for them, but could be for Eagles
The veteran safety out of the University of Tennessee earned key snaps under defensive coordinator Brian Flores last year, but the arrival of fellow Volunteers' alum Thomas clouds his immediate future there. Flores and the Vikings have big expectations for Thomas right off the bat, leaving Jackson third on the depth chart, and possibly on his way out before long.
Jackson seemed to be on the cusp of stardom entering last season, with Pro Football Focus naming him to the All-Breakout team entering the 2025 campaign, thanks to three consecutive seasons that saw the safety notch a PFF coverage grade above 69.0.
However, his playing time fluctuated under Flores last season (14 games, eight starts), as the former second-team All-SEC selection never quite made the jump due to bouts of inconsistency.
The Eagles could look to unlock that talent once more, as his final college campaign saw the Nashville native finish second in the SEC and 14th in all of college football in pass breakups. He also tied for the SEC lead in tackles for loss by defensive backs, so the potential for Jackson to thrive in new surroundings is tangible.
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With Andrew Mukuba and Marcus Epps currently positioned atop the safety depth chart, Jackson is surely a name to monitor in the coming weeks.
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