You can say the NFL is played at 100 miles an hour. Plays are made in the blink of an eye, and the game’s processing speed is among the biggest adjustments players have to make. That’s not something Baltimore Ravens safety Keondre Jackson has had to adjust to.
If the NFL is played at 100 miles an hour, Jackson plays it at 200. His brake pedal is broken—he knows no other speed. He consistently showcases that, and did so in Baltimore’s latest preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Jackson was a human wrecking ball on Saturday. He led both teams with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. It didn’t matter if it was on defense or special teams. He was unstoppable.
This has become a common theme for the second-year pro, and it’s obvious that he’s making a competitive run toward defensive reps.
Keondre Jackson’s case for defensive snaps has become too strong for Baltimore Ravens to ignore
Whenever it's time for preseason action, Keondre Jackson comes to play. He's flourished in most, if not all, his opportunities. At some point, you need to let him loose on defense in the regular season.
I get it, it’s going to be hard for Jackson to see the field on defense. The dynamite safety trio of Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, and Jaylinn Hawkins is going to vacuum up almost every single snap available at the position.
Just imagine adding Jackson to the equation, though. Adding another heat-seeking missile to the secondary would feel like you're watching something out of a movie. And head coach Jesse Minter could honestly create room for him.
The key for Jackson will be versatility. He has the skill set to operate closer to the line of scrimmage, as seen through his two tackles for a loss against Minnesota. He has a knack for timing everything absolutely perfectly, slipping through blocks, and bringing down the ball carrier with authority.
More importantly, the versatility from other safeties could help Jackson get on the field more often in the regular season. Minter can deploy Hamilton wherever he wants, Hawkins can drop down into the box or slot if needed, and although Starks is mostly a pure deep safety, he did play some cornerback in college with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Simply put, Minter’s secondary could be positionless. When you’re a defensive mastermind like him, you will want your best playmakers on the field.
In certain schemes, a defense with each of Hamilton, Starks, Hawkins, and Jackson on the field could be the most talented unit. Whether it’s unleashing a crazy pass rush with guys like Hamilton and Jackson utilized to hunt down the quarterback, or focusing on clogging passing lanes with lengthy and rangy defensive backs, there should be ways for Minter to get them all on the field. He can be as creative as he wants.
If Jackson is unfortunately held off the field due to the numbers game at safety, he’ll still make a substantial impact as Baltimore’s special teams ace. But it’s becoming hard to ignore the X-factor he has the potential to be on defense. Minter needs to give him a consistent shot to prove his worth in 2026.
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