Paris Johnson Jr. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Journalism major that has covered numerous events and players for Ohio State’s newspaper, The Lantern

• Consensus five-star recruit from Cincinnati 
• Academic standout with an extensive background in volunteering. Has already established a foundation to help veterans and underprivileged children.  

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Zone rushing scheme, spread passing offense. 
• 2022 projected role: Starting left tackle that spent his first season as a starter in 2021 at right guard. 

Pros: Paris Johnson Jr. is an explosive athlete with easy movement skills. He has exceptional range as a run blocker and can be trusted to execute longer pulls. He pairs top-end mobility with an impressive frame that features an athletic build with long limbs. Johnson has plenty of high-level flashes where his blend of size, power, and athleticism leads to dominant reps and he should benefit from playing tackle, where his skill set projects more favorably than on the interior. Johnson is a respected leader who excels in the classroom that has a passion for helping veterans and disadvantaged children. 

Cons: Despite being an elite athlete, Paris Johnson Jr. has to do a better job of protecting his edges as a pass blocker by being more consistent with his pass sets and framing blocks. Johnson is too often tardy with his responses to twists/stunts, especially when he’s uncovered. He needs to do a better job of playing with leverage and showcasing more of a willingness to sit on his hips to improve his overall control and improve his ability to sustain blocks longer. Johnson has plenty of room to add functional strength to improve his anchor and power at the point of attack when run blocking. While he has exceptional range when pulling and climbing to the second level, he needs to find better control on the move and be more consistent with anticipating flow so he can connect with moving targets in space. His base has a tendency to narrow and he must become more consistent with setting and maintaining a firm base to operate from. Johnson’s hands can be late to activate and opponents often get into his frame and win with first contact, which puts him in a state of recovery. Johnson is guilty of pushing and leaning as a run blocker and not rolling his hips into contact.

Paris Johnson Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report by Joe Marino