Paris Johnson Jr NFL Draft Profile and Scouting Report

Paris Johnson Scouting Report and Draft Profile

OT, Ohio State Buckeyes # 77

 

2023 NFL Draft Measurements

Paris Johnson Jr 40 time: 5.05 according to his NBCsports. 

6’ 6” / 310 lbs

 

Paris Johnson Jr NFL Draft Profile

 

Paris Johnson was a 5 star prospect according to 247sports. He was the number one offensive tackle in the country coming out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Johnson would receive offers from 48 division one schools before deciding to play college ball for his home state Buckeyes. 

Even with all the high school accolades, and being the top rated tackle in the nation, Johnson wouldn’t explode onto the scene as a freshman. He actually only saw the field five times and was thrust into a starting role in the bowl game as a guard. He would take that momentum and run into the 2021 season where he would start from day one as the right guard. 

It was just this last season, Johnson’s junior year, that he would move back to tackle. He would finish the 2022 NCAA football season as a consensus All-American with recognition by the America Football Coaches Association. He would also be the 11th winner of the Armed Forces Merit Award. This is an award given to an individual or a group with military background or involvement. His mother and he started the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation to help military veterans and their families.

 

Strengths

 

Plays with a Mean Streak

 

One of my favorite things about Johnson’s film jumped out immediately. It is his willingness to engage and try to punish the defenders. Johnson plays with a brutality that I love to see out of offensive lineman. Once he latches onto you, it seems as if his goal is to drive you 3 feet into the turf. This is a trait that isn’t really teachable. Either you have it or you don’t, and he most definitely does.

 

Athleticism

 

I have mentioned in the past that I don’t even like to list athleticism as a strength because all the players today are athletes. However, Johnson is a stand out athlete. Johnson is 6-6 310 lbs. and moves incredibly well for his size. He uses his quickness often for the Buckeyes on zone runs and as a pull blocker. He also utilizes his quick feet to get to the second level and pummel unsuspecting linebackers.

 

Johnson has great strength and uses it to keep defenders away from his body and toss them to the ground often. He finishes plays by sending his defender to the turf at an unusually high rate.

 

Character

 

As we mentioned above Paris Johnson isn’t just a great player, he is a great young man. His character will be strongly considered on draft night as teams will look to add someone with his demeanor and values to their locker rooms. With a player like Johnson, the front office won’t be losing any sleep.

 

Run Blocking

 

There may be a few tackles in this class I’d rather have pass blocking than Johnson, but I don’t think that’s the case with his run blocking. This big man is always looking to hit you in the mouth and can dominate in straight ahead run blocking. Let’s just say not many people look forward to getting into the trenches on the other side of him. He does need to work on squaring up on defenders in open space, as he can be caught lunging or getting of center and missing his man occasionally.

 

Weaknesses

 

Pass Blocking

 

This is the biggest hole in Johnson’s game, and that’s saying a lot since he played 449 pass block snaps and only surrendered 2 sacks according to PFF. He struggles to keep defenders away from his body in pass coverage and tends to body block them before resetting his feet and trying to push them away. However, he does do a great job at resetting his feet when needed.

 

I do think I saw him get away with more holds than any other lineman on film. Now that he’s headed to the NFL, he will really need to work on hand placement or he will be a walking penalty his rookie season.

 

He also has too long of a kick step at times and struggles to keep the speed rushers from getting the edge. Of all the top tackles in this draft, I saw him receive the most help from tight ends and running backs in pass protect. I will say he looked his best as a pass blocker against Isaiah Foskey of Notre Dame, who may have been the best edge rusher he faced.

 

Play Recognition

 

From time to time he will look confused at the line and not recognize a stunt or a blitz pickup. Too often, he will make the wrong read and let the interior rusher through. Another aspect of this can be seen when he fails to identify which gap his defender is responsible for. He will start to take a kick step outside when it was obvious pre snap his defender would be the 3 technique. Fortunately for him and CJ Stroud, his athleticism allows him to recover. With a good line coach he should clean up these concerns.

 

Paris Johnson Ohio State Draft Stock

 

At this point Paris Johnson is a lock for the first round. The question is how early in the first round will he go? I’d say most scouts and NFL execs would have him in their top 3. He could easily be the first tackle taken in the 2023 NFL draft. I think the teams’ scheme will ultimately decide where he ends up. If a team like the Titans was drafting early, I could see them choosing Johnson over the others. He should be drafted between picks 5-20.

 

Final Thoughts on Paris Johnson Jr Scouting Report

 

Paris Johnson is a future star along the line. Now, we just need to wait and see who for. I do believe he is at least one season away from his full potential, as he has some major holes in his pass blocking game. I would draft him and play him at RT for a year before moving him to the left. He has already played on the right side at Ohio State, so it shouldn’t be a big adjustment like it was for the Lions’ Penei Sewell.

 

If I was a run heavy team, I think Johnson would be my top tackle. Teams looking for a pure pass protector to keep their quarterback clean should look to Anton Harrison or Peter Skoronski first.

 

Paris Johnson Jr Player Comparison 

 

Remember, I try to compare players to players who I think mimicked skills at the same point in their career. This means these players are similar coming out of college. That being said, I see a bit of Taylor Lewan in Johnson with his natural mean streak on the field and the fact he needs to develop more as a pass protector while looking so dominant as a run blocker.

 

Paris Johnson Jr Scouting Report author-Ken Noble