The 2023 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Paris Johnson 2023 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Ohio State
Size: 6-foot-6, 315 pounds
Class: Junior
2022 stats: First Team All-Big-Ten
Johnson played a couple of different positions during his career at Ohio State and was successful. He is now in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a prospect, Johnson was a five-star tackle out of Ohio, who decided to stay in-state to play for the Buckeyes. In 2020, he played five games, including an appearance in the College Football Playoff Championship against Alabama. For the 2021 season, Johnson started at guard for the Buckeyes and was named Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches). His play helped Ohio State win the Rose Bowl that season. In 2022, Johnson moved to left tackle and was a First Team All-Big Ten member for his play. Ohio State made the College Football Playoff, but were defeated by Georgia.
Following the College Football Playoff semifinal, Johnson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. He is a projected first-round pick.
Johnson has a good frame for an NFL offensive tackle. He stands 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, which is solid size for the position. It looks like he could carry even more weight if he adds play strength. On top of that, he also has long arms, which he uses well and makes it tough for defenders to shed his blocks.
On top of his size, Johnson is a good athlete for the position. He shows good flexibility to bend, but also has good movement skills. Johnson moves well laterally, helping him stay in front of pass rushers and get on the outside for run blocks. His ability to move in a straight line helps him get to the second level on run blocks.
Maybe it comes from his time spent on the interior, but Johnson currently shows more consistency as a run blocker. As mentioned, he can handle the man in front of him, but his ability to move and block in space helps as well. His physicality and mentality to finish plays as a run blocker also help him.
While he has a good frame to start with at the NFL level, Johnson can add some strength to really fill it out. This will help him sustain blocks longer and deal with power rushers at the NFL level. His play strength isn’t a liability, but he can definitely be a more well-rounded player with more strength.
He has limited experience at tackle, as he played guard for the first two seasons at Ohio State. Johnson looked out of place at guard and did look better at tackle, but he only played a season there. He did show some solid awareness to pick up stunts and twists. It is still hard though for a player to go from one year at left tackle in college and then be immediately successful at the next level.
There are changes to his technique that Johnson will need to make at the next level. First off, his pad level can get to high, which causes him to lose his powers. While he has strong hands, his hand placement can be inconsistent. Correcting this will help him engage in blocks even longer.
Projected Draft Range: First-Round Pick
Draft Grade: First-Round Pick
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