Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
49ers sign 2nd-round draft pick Drake Jackson to 4-yr rookie deal
Jun 2, 2022 at 12:04 PM
•
The San Francisco 49ers have signed former USC defensive end
Drake Jackson to his rookie four-year deal. The team selected Jackson with the 29th pick (No. 61 overall) in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. News of the signing comes from Jackson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and was
first reported by Pro Football Talk.
Jackson becomes the first of the 49ers' nine draft picks to sign with the team.
"You turn on the film, and he just jumps off the film in terms of his athleticism and talent and length and all the things -- his ability to turn the corner and redirect, all the things we look for and covet in a defensive end," general manager John Lynch said of Jackson on April 29. "Then we brought Drake in and got a real good feel for him as a person. Really worked hard on him and thrilled to be able to land him. Didn't think he'd be at 61, and he came there, and we were happy to grab him and make him a part of the Niners."
Jackson registered 37 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, five sacks, a pass defensed, an interception, and a forced fumble through 10 game appearances as a junior in 2021, per
Sports Reference. He recorded 103 tackles, 25 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, and two interceptions through three seasons with the Trojans.
After being drafted, Jackson told reporters that he expects the 49ers to keep him along the edge of a defensive line that already features star pass rusher
Nick Bosa.
"I hope [Bosa] is as excited to be my teammate as I am to be his," Jackson shared. "As soon as I get out there, I right try to find him and get a handshake from him and workout or something. I want to get in there and start getting the knowledge and the things that I need to grow and keep being a monster like him. He's literally a gremlin on the side, he's a monster. He puts fear into tackles' eyes, and I just want to be the same way."
Thanks to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which runs through the 2030 season, all rookie contracts are for a length of four years. First-round selections come with an option for a fifth year, which doesn't apply to any of the 49ers' nine draft selections.
The total value of Jackson's four-year contract was set to be $6,249,510, per OverTheCap.com. That included a signing bonus of $1,725,096 and a 2022 salary-cap figure of $1,136,274.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Jackson took a smaller $5,802,392 deal to increase his guarantees to $3,143,212.
"I'm really versatile. I am young and I would say that benefits me," Jackson added. "That's more time that I got to learn. People say that this is still a learning phase that I'm in, so I think I have a lot of knowledge that I can take in coming from the D-Line room and just everybody in the league. This whole first year is like a learning process so I just want to take it and go."
Related News
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Bulkier Drake Jackson ready to attack 2023 with 49ers
When Drake Jackson stepped up to the podium after Wednesday's practice, there was something different about the San Francisco 49ers' second-year defensive end. He was bulkier, thanks to a lot of offseason work.
"Drake has been here all summer, working out—all spring, rather—doing the things that he needs to do to improve his game," defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said earlier this month. "He's gained a lot of weight. He's in there with [defensive line coach Kris] Kocurek, and I'm just excited to see exactly what he's going to do and how he's going to progress in his second year."
What are Jackson's expectations for his sophomore
What 49ers coach Kris Kocurek said about Drake Jackson, Javon Hargrave, Javon Kinlaw
Drake Jackson looks better prepared for his sophomore NFL season, both physically and mentally. The San Francisco 49ers defensive end spoke with reporters this week, and reports of his added bulk were visually confirmed. He estimates he has gained about 13 pounds since last season, and the work continues.
His defensive line coach, Kris Kocurek, believes the added weight and better preparation will help Jackson last through the rigors of an NFL season. The coach has seen "significant strength gain" in his young defender.
Jackson was inactive for six of the 49ers' final eight games last season, including each of the team's three playoff contests. Being forced to watch from
Why John Lynch believes 49ers QB Brock Purdy is the "real deal"
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 31
Over the offseason, there has been significant talk surrounding the San Francisco 49ers and their quarterbacks, especially after the team signed Sam Darnold in free agency, providing them three capable options with starting experience in the former Carolina Panther, Brock Purdy, and Trey Lance.
Purdy is evidently the leader in the clubhouse, as stated by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan several times this offseason, but many have pointed out his flaws, such as the inability to make throws downfield, as a reason why one of the other quarterbacks could win over the starting job with a strong performance in organized team activities(OTAs) and training camp.
What do the 49ers believe about Purdy's downfield ability?
General manager
49ers Mailbag: What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? Which rookie will play the most in 2023? Which question stumped us?
What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? We're answering this question and others in this week's edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag.
It's week two of OTAs, and the 49ers will have a session open to the media on Wednesday. It may even be happening as you're reading this. And Brock Purdy is believed to start throwing a ball this week (though probably not a regular football).
But for now, ignore those reports, and let's jump into our latest mailbag and answer your questions.
Who's starting on Opening Day at FS? - Chris W.
The 49ers re-signed veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal and drafted Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown back in April. Brown is the future starting free safety. That future is most likely to