ohio state University has a reputation as one of the top factories for college football. Not only do they have an elite recruiting machine that can bring the best prospects into their program, but they also have great coaches. So it’s no surprise that OSU left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is one of the most highly regarded tackle prospects in 2023. NFL draft.
There are 64 starting offensive tackle jobs in the NFL, but there’s also a good argument that there aren’t 64 starting offensive tackles in the NFL. Because of this, teams are constantly looking for players who can secure tackle positions for the foreseeable future. Longtime starting offensive tackles are worth their (considerable) weight in gold to teams, and that’s reflected in their free-agent market. It’s also reflected in his draft stock relative to the other positions on the offensive line.
In 2022, Johnson cemented his holdings by being named a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten. Let’s take a look at what makes Johnson one of the best tackle prospects around.
What does Paris Johnson Jr. do well?
Paris Johnson’s lead almost jumps off the screen when she watches her tape.
Johnson looks like he was ripped from a catalog at 6’6, 313 pounds with 36-inch arms. But in addition to having the quintessential size and length for an offensive tackle, he has excellent athleticism and movement skills. He’s able to reflect and match up athletic pass-rushers on the edge, or redirect inside to seal the B gap if necessary.
Johnson has a very flexible lower body, which allows him to compensate for his height and maintain good leverage. He is a natural knee bender who can drop his hips and keep his pads down without lunging at defenders. His influence also helps maximize his impressive playing strength. Johnson is capable of driving defenders away from the ball, or twisting them out of spaces along the line of scrimmage.
Size, length, athleticism, strength, competitive toughness, and run blocking are all strong points.
What are the weaknesses of Paris Johnson Jr.
For all of Johnson’s athletic potential, he has weaknesses that will hold him back, at least initially. Johnson has a hard time playing consistently with good technique. He has long arms, but doesn’t always throw a good punch at defenders to disrupt his momentum and set up his block. Instead, his hands are often late, giving away his chest plate, allowing defenders to control him and compromising his impressive playing strength. While he has a length advantage over almost any defender he sees, his late hands negate that advantage.
His hands also frequently fall out of the frame of defenders and his hands are forced into the shoulders of defenders, which can lead to penalties at the NFL level.
Johnson only has two starting seasons under his belt and only one of those was at left tackle (and the other at left guard). A good offensive line coach will work with Johnson to address his technique issues and improve his use of his hands. If he does, he will fully unlock his advantage and make him a good starter in any tackle spot.
Highlights of Paris Johnson Jr.
What are people saying about Paris Johnson Jr.?
The Paris Johnson lead is enticing, to say the least. The combination of size, athleticism and experience of him playing at the highest level will lead to him being drafted early in the first round. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein think of him,
“Athletic long tackle who needs additional technical work but has the traits to become a long-term starter on the left side. Johnson is still completing his frame and should get stronger. He is much better as a move blocker than a man blocker, but he can close that gap with more training. He is loose and quick in pass protection, but will need to add core strength and improve with inside hands to prevent edge defenders from missing his anchor. Johnson’s athletic tools and positional versatility are advantageous, but things could be a little rough at first before he settles in.”
Paris Johnson Jr. might not be the best clear offensive tackle in the draft right now. There are several tackles in contention for being the first taken at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Johnson has the advantage of being the best to come out of a very strong tackle class. Difficult rookie seasons aren’t uncommon for offensive tackles, and PJohnson probably won’t be any different. But his potential is through the roof as long as he develops properly.