EAGAN, Minn. -- Donovan Jackson was the Minnesota Vikings' first-round draft choice last month, which by definition means he fits three criteria the team seeks in all players. Based on the Vikings' evaluation, Jackson -- the likely starter at left guard -- is smart, tough and loves football.
Coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have repeated that mantra often during their three-year tenure in Minnesota. To be fair, it is not original to them. Many teams use similar parameters, and in some cases the same words, to describe their most desired traits.