The 2023 NFL Draft pre-draft process is now at full throttle. With the offseason upon us, it’s time for us to turn our attention to the next round of players that will enter the NFL. In this 2023 NFL Draft scouting report, we’ll breakdown Paris Johnson Jr, as well as a predicted 40 time, injury history, player comparison, and NFL Draft projection.
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Paris Johnson Jr 40 Time
I have Paris Johnson Jr predicted to run a 5.16 40 time at the 2023 NFL Combine. When compared to the league average for the position, this time is slightly quicker. On game film, speed isn’t necessarily something that pops off the screen for Paris Johnson Jr. Rather, he wins with strength and awareness in the trenches.
Paris Johnson Jr Injury History
Paris Johnson Jr has been a rock on the offensive line for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2020, he filled in for injured players, which led to earning the starting job at guard in 2021. He started in all games over the next two seasons, eventually moving to the left tackle position to start the 2022 season for the Buckeyes.
Paris Johnson Jr Scouting Report
Pros
- Has Incredible Poise For An Offensive Tackle
- Locks Defenders Out And Consistently Wins 1-on-1’s
- Steers Defenders To Keep Pocket Clean In Pass Protection
Cons
- Urgency In His Attack At The Second-Level Needs Improvement
- Needs To Finish Blocks With More Consistency
- Hand Placement Can Be An Issue For Him At Times
Paris Johnson Jr is a three-year contributor at offensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Coming out of high school, Johnson Jr was a consensus five-star prospect and, along with Georgia’s Broderick Jones, one of the top offensive linemen in the country. Additionally, he was a consensus first-team All-American, Lombardi Award Semifinalist, and Outland Trophy Semifinalist. He possesses good height and solid weight for the offensive line in the NFL. His predicted 40 time of 5.16 is slightly quicker than the league average for offensive tackles.
He displays a good ability to use his hands to stun twitchy rushers off the edge and gain leverage. He’s able to lock out and keep rushers on his outside shoulder quite well. There is no wasted movement in his stance. Handles delayed blitzes off the edge better than most and does not panic. Has a solid ability to recover versus stunts and twists. He’s a very good anchor and keep rushers in front of him with ease. Shows a good ability to steer defenders in pass protection to keep the pocket clean. Displays a very good ability to handle stunts and pickup his new assignment seamlessly.
However, I would like to see him improve his hand placement, especially in run blocking to drive through and steer edge rushers. His ability to attack and engage rushers when pull blocking needs to find consistency. I’d like to see him reach and engage defenders at the second-level with more urgency and aggressiveness. When run blocking, his ability to remain engaged with defenders to keep running lanes clear needs to be focused on. His hands have a tendency to get too wide when engaging interior defensive linemen.
Paris Johnson Jr Player Comparison
My player comparison for Paris Johnson Jr is Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith. The ninth pick by Dallas in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith has been a consistent presence at left tackle for the Cowboys. The height and weight measurements, as well as playing-style, are a match between the two. Despite injuries over the last several season, Tyron Smith is still holding his own for the Dallas Cowboys.
Paris Johnson Jr NFL Draft Projection
I have Paris Johnson Jr listed as the top offensive tackle on our 2023 NFL Draft Big Board Top 200 Prospect Rankings. He’s currently ranked 7th overall, slotted a few spots above Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski. The 2023 NFL Draft class has three offensive tackles in it’s top tier, along with Georgia’s Broderick Jones. It’s my belief that all three prospects will be off the board by the 20th overall pick, due in part to the position’s importance.
If there’s a team that misses out early in the 2023 NFL Draft on the QB sweepstakes, such as the Las Vegas Raiders, they could be a likely match for Paris Johnson Jr. Additionally, there are several teams that could explore the possibility of trading up for the offensive tackle. The New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers are all teams that will need to focus on their offensive line this offseason.
