Let’s take a peek at a young man generally considered to be among the (if not the) top offensive tackles in the 2023 NFL draft, Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State University.
Standing at 6’6” 313 pounds, the big man really gets around the field in game film. Unfortunately, Johnson was not able to participate in mobility drills at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine or Ohio State’s pro day, so there are no concrete numbers to see and compare to other linemen in the draft.
Johnson has been a big ticket item in college football since his highschool days when he was given a 5 star recruit ranking and was the number one offensive tackle recruit in the nation. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001, Johnson starred at St. Xavier High for his first three years of highschool football before transferring to Princeton High for his senior season. In his final highschool season, Johnson won the prestigious Anthony Munoz award for the best highschool offensive lineman in the nation.
Johnson was heavily recruited by just about every college in division one college football, but he eventually decided to join fellow 5 star recruits Jaxon Smith Njigba and CJ Stroud to play for a loaded Buckeye offense.
Johnson continued to rack up accolades in Columbus, named to the second team all Big Ten team in 2021 and the first team All Big Ten in 2022. Johnson was a consensus all American in his junior and final collegiate season where he only allowed 12 QB hurries and two sacks all year. Johnson decided to call it a career in college after the Buckeyes fell to eventual national champion Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Johnson only gave up 3 sacks for his entire time in college.
He’s a versatile player who starred at different positions along the offensive line, including right guard and left tackle.
“The fact that I played a year at right guard and a year at left tackle just shows my versatility and my ability to pick up a new position, and also my willingness to do so,” Johnson told the media at the combine. “I think I’m a natural tackle but I want to be part of the best five.”
“The fact that I played a year at right guard and a year at left tackle just shows my versatility and my ability to pick up a new position… I think I’m a natural tackle but I want to be part of the best five.”
-Paris Johnson Jr.
He’s starred at every level he’s played at, and the NFL is just the next step up on the totem pole.
Versatility and athletic ability are two of the main traits Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has looked for in offensive linemen throughout his tenure in Green Bay, so don’t be surprised if Johnson turns out to be the newest member of the Green Bay Packers when pick 15 is announced. Almost there- two weeks to go until any and all draft speculation is affirmed or shot down.
