Drake Jackson has had his fair share of injuries with the 49ers.
The San Francisco 49ers looked to build through the draft this offseason, as they held on to all 11 of their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft after a quiet free agency period.
It was an intriguing strategy from the 49ers, who let several key free agents head elsewhere, while not making any significant moves in return. That allowed them to primarily focus on the draft, where they looked to plug a number of holes and get better, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.
Heading into 2025, San Francisco will need quite a bit of production from their rookies, as each of their first four draft picks could end up being Day 1 starters, be it at defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, or cornerback.
Over the past few seasons, San Francisco hasn’t been able to get that type of production from their rookie classes, leaving a few gaps on the roster during contending seasons.
They did get some quality pieces in the 2024 NFL Draft, as first-round pick Ricky Pearsall came along near the end of the year, while second-rounder Renardo Green, third-rounder Dominick Puni, and even fourth-rounder Malik Mustapha were starters for much of the season. Additionally, fellow fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo played a key role in the running back rotation.
Before that, though? Not much. In their 2023 NFL Draft, only Ji’Ayir Brown and Jake Moody produced as rookies, and both had uneven play. Behind that, four of the nine players have been waived at least once, while none of the rest have become starting-caliber players.
The 2022 NFL Draft would’ve been even worse if not for the Brock Purdy selection in the seventh round. At the top was second-round pick Drake Jackson, who has struggled to be healthy, playing in just eight games over the last two years.
Coming into the NFL, Jackson was expected to be the next 49ers’ situational pass-rusher, as he had unique bend and athleticism for his frame. But, the former USC product hasn’t seen the field much, even when healthy, which has been rare due to a variety of knee issues.
That didn’t stop the former second-round pick from sharing a strong message on Instagram on Monday, however.
“Y’all crazy if y’all don’t think I’m wreaking havoc on that field this year!,” Jackson wrote on his story. “Boomerang to all the haters. I got God on my side. See y’all succas soon.”
#49ers Drake Jackson Via his IG Story:
“Yall crazy if yall don’t think im wrecking havoc on that field this year.” pic.twitter.com/UiFkobulGI
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) May 5, 2025
From the post, it appears Jackson is finally healthy after spending the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. After missing 29 straight games, the pass-rusher may finally be ready to make an impact on the field.
But, in order to do so, he’ll have a tough climb up the depth chart in a crucial offseason that could be make-or-break for the former second-rounder. He’ll have to beat out the likes of Yetur-Gross Matos, Sam Okuayinonu, Robert Beal Jr. and Alex Barrett behind projected starters Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams.
If he isn’t worthy of cracking the top four, he very well could be released heading into his fourth NFL season.