You’d be hard-pressed to find a mock draft that doesn’t forecast Paris Johnson Jr. being selected within the first 20 picks of the upcoming NFL draft.
According to our latest mock draft roundup, 36 different prognostications have the Ohio State offensive tackle going no lower than No. 17 overall, while 19 predict Johnson will be a top-10 pick. A blue-chip prospect out of high school, Johnson’s had his sights set on hearing his name called on stage at the draft since before he was in grade school. And in just five days, he’ll finally realize a lifelong dream.
“It's crazy. I mean, I've been waiting for this since I was 5 years old,” Johnson told reporters at Ohio State pro day last month. “So I've been preparing for this pro day for 16 years. It was my first dream, so to be able to continue to chase that is awesome.”
Despite nearing a benchmark achievement he’s envisioned for as long as he can remember, Johnson said he isn’t letting the moment get the best of him. Perhaps setting his personal standard so high over the duration of his football career has made the pre-draft process feel all the more normal for Johnson.
After all, Johnson’s always expected to be exactly where he’s at as draft week approaches.
“If you have the approach that you are supposed to be here right now to tell the story that you want to tell and that by God you are destined to do this, then you won’t be nervous about any approach you have,” Johnson said. “I try to do that with everything, every interview, every showing is that I’m meant to be here. So I don’t have nerves. I feel like when it happens that they’ll make the best decision for a franchise and I know I can be a great addition to a franchise.”
The 6-foot-6, 313-pound tackle measured in with the third-longest arms among all NFL Scouting Combine participants (36 1/8”) in early March and cranked out an impressive 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Given those numbers, Johnson’s mobility and athleticism may be most impressive of all, and she showed off those characteristics in spades at both the combine and Ohio State’s pro day.
pushin @ParisJohnsonJr
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There’s little doubt that scouts, coaches and general managers across the league are clamoring to add Johnson to their roster this week. And as far as the interactions he’s had with NFL personnel, Johnson said he hasn’t had any negative experiences.
“Honestly, really all of them (have been receptive). I mean, I wouldn't say I've met a team that's like, 'No,' you know what I mean?” Johnson said. “So I would say I've got a lot of positive energy from a lot of coaches and I feel like I reciprocated that. I know that when the time comes, I feel like it'll just happen how it's supposed to.”
Of course, some destinations are likelier than others. After trading down from the No. 1 overall pick, the Chicago Bears may look to shore up protection for Justin Fields on the offensive line with the ninth pick, and 12 different mock drafts in Eleven Warriors’ latest roundup predicted that’s where Johnson will end up.
Fields left the Buckeye program before Johnson became a full-time starter on the Ohio State offensive line in 2021, but their relationship dates back to Johnson’s time visiting the program as a recruit.
“I just had a great talk with the Bears' offensive line coach. Amazing guy. I talked with Justin about four days ago, so to be able to keep up with him (is good),” Johnson said. “To me, he's like a big bro to me. When I came in as a recruit, he used to look after me. My mom is really tight with his mom. So whenever I came up there, I knew I was gonna be with him. So my freshman year and stuff like that. And I think just being able to play him again and being able to protect him, I think that'd be cool. He came in when I was still learning. Now I'm here, I'm ready to go.”
The Tennessee Titans, who possess the No. 11 overall pick, also seemed particularly interested in Johnson at pro day. As a former Buckeye defensive end and assistant coach, head coach Mike Vrabel has likely been aware of Johnson’s talents for years. Now, though, he’ll have an opportunity to usher him into the NFL, if he so chooses.
“I can't say I don't (have a good connection with the Titans). I don't have a sense about any team, but I feel like I do,” Johnson said. “I like Coach Vrabel and he was talking to me a lot today. I think I had a good formal with him and I talked with Taylor (Lewan) at the combine and he was telling me what it would be to be the next tackle at Tennessee. He's a good guy, I was talking to him the whole combine.”
Joining the Titans would also enable Johnson to reunite with former Buckeye stablemate Nicholas Petit-Frere, who started 16 games for Tennessee as a rookie in 2022.
“It would be cool. Me and Nick spent a whole year trying to beat him out for his spot. Now it’d be nice, we both have our own spots,” Johnson said. “That would be kind of nice. So it’d be fun to work with him, having that communication with him would be cool.”
Although Johnson will be off to the next level by the end of this week, he won’t soon forget the impact that Ohio State’s had on his development, and credited several coaches in particular for helping him get to this point.
“It’s awesome to be a part of this team, be a part of this organization. Honestly, the reason why Ohio State produces the way it does, it’s not just because we wear the logo and we’re gonna go to the NFL,” Johnson said. “I think it’s the people like Coach (Mickey Marotti), Coach (Justin) Frye, Mike Sollenne, Coach (Ryan) Day. It’s all the coaches in here. The logo does change a little bit, it’s that standard. It’s the standard you have to keep. So I think the coaches, the way they’ve done things, they’ve kept that standard up. When you come here, you gotta keep that standard of the guys that came before.”
