American safety Dan Jackson of Georgia and tight end CJ Dippre of Alabama practice for the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions had two picks in the final round of this year’s draft, and they spent one of them adding to their secondary depth, selecting Georgia safety Dan Jackson with the No. 230 pick.
Jackson is the second Georgia standout the Lions have drafted in this year’s class, joining guard Tate Ratledge, whom they traded up to select at No. 57.
Like his fellow Bulldog, Jackson was instrumental in helping Georgia capture the 2021 and 2022 College Football Playoff national championships.
The Lions’ depth at safety was a bit thin entering the draft, so taking Jackson isn’t much of a surprise. During MLive’s 2025 draft preview, Jackson was identified as a potential Day 2-3 fit for Detroit.
In his final season with the Bulldogs, Jackson recorded 47 solo tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions and one forced fumble. For his efforts, he earned third-team All-SEC honors.