Packers Draft Iowa CB Josh Jackson with Pick 45

With the 45th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers have selected Josh Jackson, a cornerback from the University of Iowa.

At 6-1 and 196 pounds, Jackson was a popular mock draft target for the Packers in the first round. We even predicted Jackson as a possible target on this week’s episode of Blue 58.

But now, after taking Jaire Alexander in the first round, the Packers double up on cornerbacks and pick Jackson in the second round.

What we know about Josh Jackson

Jackson’s biggest selling point is his size. He’s tall for a corner (though not quite as tall as the 6-3 Kevin King, last year’s second-round pick in Green Bay) and much more in keeping with the historical guidelines the Packers have traditionally followed with their corners.

Jackson has good but not great speed with a 4.56 time in the 40-yard dash, in addition to a good but not great 6.86 time in the three-cone drill.

While his speed is suspect, his ball skills are not. He defended 27 passes in his lone season with extensive playing time at Iowa, along with a whopping eight interceptions. He’s been labeled a bit of a one-year wonder, but if that’s how good he can be in one year, so be it.  That season measures up to the best statistical season any defensive back could hope for.

How this helps the Packers

Green Bay has injected high pick after high pick into its secondary. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2014. Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins in 2015. Kevin King and Josh Jones in 2017.

Now with Alexander and Jackson, the Packers have thrown two more picks on that pile. Sooner or later, one of them might have to stick. Maybe, with his impressive statistical resume, it’ll be Jackson.

At the very least, Jackson appears to have the profile of the rangy outside corner the Packers have been looking for. With Kevin King on one side and Jackson on the other, the Packers could have imposing size. Coupled with Jaire Alexander in the slot, that’s a secondary that could finally be taking steps towards being a reason the Packers succeed in the playoffs rather than fail.