PFF Spotlights Cardinals Top Pick Paris Johnson
The Arizona Cardinals walked away as big winners from the 2023 NFL Draft for their work on gaining draft capital for next offseason.
That's been a major talking point - and rightfully so - yet their first-round pick in Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. can be a massive part of Arizona's rebuild moving into the future.
Johnson's versatility (he played guard and tackle at OSU) allows him to be plugged in to nearly anywhere across a Cardinals line that desperately needs a youth movement across the board.
"Johnson showed out in his first season at left tackle, yielding all of 14 pressures on 449 pass-blocking snaps. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he ticks all the physical boxes you could want at the position," said Pro Football Focus in their evaluation of Johnson.
"Do you want someone who can cut off the backside, displace a three-technique, mirror an athlete off the edge and lead out on a screen? Johnson is your man. It's all there for him to be a high-end NFL tackle."
As previously mentioned, Johnson's versatility gives him the opportunity to play nearly everywhere - but where does he fit best? Though his most likely route is starting at left guard this season, PFF says left tackle for the future.
"Sure, Johnson could flip over to right tackle, as well, but that would be three position switches in three years. He just needs the reps at this point, so keeping him on the left side would be best for his development."
PFF's Pros on Johnson
• Ticks every box physically you could want at the tackle position.
• An athlete. Could have played other sports. You see it when he has to recover a block.
• Strong frame that still has more room to grow.
PFF's Cons on Johnson
• Feet too frenetic at times. Hard to keep a solid base with how much he's moving them.
• Two-hand puncher in pass protection. Makes it difficult to reset when they don't land.
• Only has one year of experience at tackle. Played right guard in 2021.
"You can expect some growing pains early on due to Johnson's limited experience, but that's the nature of the tackle position. If he's dedicated to his craft, he'll be a stud."
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