Jeremiah Mock 3.0: Protecting Love

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah unveiled his third mock draft on Tuesday. Here’s the Green Bay Packers’ selection at No. 15 overall.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 21, 2023 11:47 AM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In his third mock draft, which he unveiled on Tuesday, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah gave presumptive new Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love some help. Not with a game-breaking receiver or a sure-handed tight end but with an offensive tackle.

With Green Bay’s pick at No. 15 overall, Jeremiah selected Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson.

“The Packers are set to begin the Jordan Love era this fall, and Johnson will start immediately at right tackle while providing insurance at left tackle,” Jeremiah wrote.

Johnson was the first offensive tackle taken in the mock. At the Scouting Combine, he stated his case for being the No. 1 tackle.

“I think I've proven that in my film already,” he said.

Johnson started at right guard in 2021 and at left tackle in 2022, when he earned second-team All-American honors by allowing two sacks and 14 total pressures in 449 pass-protecting snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

For Green Bay, he could challenge Yosh Nijman at right tackle in 2023 and perhaps replace David Bakhtiari at left tackle in 2024.

At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, Johnson has enormous 36 1/8-inch arms to help keep opposing pass rushers at bay. Aside from 29 reps on the bench press – an impressive number considering his length – he did not test at the Scouting Combine. OSU’s pro day is set for Wednesday.

“I would say my athleticism is unmatched in the country,” Johnson said at the Combine.

He added: “I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in church with a lot of dancing, but I have good feet. And I feel like the violence I play with too. In space, that’s crucial.”

Already a quality player, Johnson has significant upside.

“If he would have gone back and gotten a little stronger, I think you are talking about somebody that could have been a top-five pick next year because he has that type of ability,” Jeremiah said during a pre-Scouting Combine conference call. “He has the frame. He has the quickness. He just needs to get a little bit stronger and play a little bit lower, but there is a ton to work with there.

“Paris Johnson can redirect fluidly, easily. He is an outstanding athlete. So, that was kind of the one knock on him: It’s just playing a little bit lower consistently and just getting a little bit stronger, so those are the two concerns.”

Jeremiah took Johnson over Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

Who did Jeremiah bypass at the offensive skill positions but went in the first round? At tight end, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid and Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer. At receiver, USC’s Jordan Addison, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and TCU’s Quentin Johnston