Breaking down what makes Paris Johnson Jr. deserving of a top-15 pick
The NFL draft is right around the corner, and Ohio State once again has players from nearly every position with pro potential. Lettermen Row is breaking down each former Buckeyes star — and what makes them a valuable choice on draft night. We’re continuing the series with a consensus first-team All-American offensive tackle: Paris Johnson Jr.
COLUMBUS — Paris Johnson Jr. came to Ohio State with a plan: He wanted to be “three and out,” meaning he wanted to declare for the NFL Draft after three years in Columbus. The former five-star recruit followed through on that ambition.
Johnson was the No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, and he lived up to that status, even seeing the field as a true freshman in the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal and the National Championship.
Johnson played three different positions — right tackle, left guard and right guard — his first year at Ohio State. He started the following season at right guard before moving to left tackle for his junior campaign. He excelled everywhere, and now he’s a lock for the first round in this year’s NFL Draft.
Johnson is considered a top-three prospect among a relatively thin tackle class. The other two — Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Georgia’s Broderick Jones — have drawbacks. Skoronski is an uber-talented blocker but because of his height (6-foot-4) and arm length (32 1/4 inches), he might have to move inside. Jones, on the other hand, started just 19 games at Georgia.
Even if he’s not the first of those three off the board, Johnson is capable of becoming the Buckeyes’ first offensive lineman to go top 15 in the draft since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall to the then-St. Louis Rams in 1997. Here’s why.
Paris Johnson Jr. has great footwork, athletic frame
Johnson has the ideal frame for an NFL left tackle. He stands 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, plus has arms that measure 36 1/8 inches. For reference, that arm length was second longest of any offensive lineman at this year’s NFL Combine. Tackle is his natural position, and it showed this past season. The Cincinnati native’s exceptional footwork and mobility make him a force in the run blocking department. Need him to use speed to perform a long pull? He can do it. Need him to use power to maul in a wide-zone scheme? He can do it.
His slides in pass sets are described by NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein as “rhythmic.” Because of his ability to shuffle his feet so well in pass pro, he can follow edge rushers around the arc. His athleticism allows him to recover, both in body position and hand placement. Scouts have noted that Johnson could add some more strength, particularly in his core and lower body, to help him stabilize his anchor and have better leverage as a run blocker. There is also the thought that he can improve his hand technique. But his potential, given that he only spent one season at left tackle, offsets the weight of those concerns, as his ceiling is quite high.
Paris Johnson Jr. has excelled at both guard and tackle
Positional versatility is key in the NFL, where talented offensive linemen come at a premium and injuries are plentiful. Johnson has it in spades.
Johnson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors at right guard in 2021. Although he allowed 14 pressures that season, he didn’t give up a single sack and was penalized only three times, according to Pro Football Focu. He also registered a PFF run blocking grade of 83.5, the 13th best of any guard with at least 300 run blocking snaps in 2021.
Johnson’s numbers were even more impressive this past season. After kicking outside to the blind side, he made the transition look seamless. In fact, Johnson didn’t allow a sack the first 11 games of the season. And even though he conceded a sack against both Michigan and Georgia, he still finished the year with just 14 pressures allowed — the same total as the year before but tied for the 23rd-fewest of any tackle in the Power Five. Johnson wound up being the first Ohio State offensive tackle to be named a consensus first-team All-American since Pace got the unanimous tag in both 1995 and 1996.
Paris Johnson Jr. is a role model on and off the field
Left tackle is a cornerstone position. It’s a building block for NFL teams. That’s why it’s imperative left tackle prospects can handle their business on and off the field. Johnson demonstrated at Ohio State that he can do that, and more.
His foundation, the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation, was the winner of this year’s Armed Forces Merit Award. Johnson created the foundation while in high school, and it has raised more than $10,000 to help veterans, student-athletes and homeless people.
What’s more, Johnson was a role model for his work ethic and playing ability during his three-year Buckeyes career. For instance, Ohio State’s Tegra Tshabola, currently competing for the starting right tackle job, changed his jersey number to Johnson’s No. 77 this offseason and talked about how he’s looked up to Johnson as a mentor. Johnson is a leader, on the gridiron and in the community, and that will serve him well at the next level.
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