Jermaine

Johnson

There may not be a team in the NFL more desperate for a receiver than the Falcons at this point, but Breer has them going EDGE here. The selection of Johnson addresses one of many needs the Falcons have, as the team looks to begin a complete rebuild following the trade of QB Matt Ryan to the Colts. According to Breer, people around the league are torn on whether or not the Falcons could entertain taking a quarterback with the eighth overall pick.

Johnson (6'5/260) won’t be picked with the second overall pick the Lions currently hold, but he could be an option at 32nd overall if he’s available. The former Florida State product has had a busy offseason, and seen his hype jump in recent months. Johnson has been mocked as high as the top-10 by some analysts, indicating that a slip to the final pick in the first round is unlikely. Nevertheless, the Lions are doing their due diligence ahead of the draft with two first round picks at their disposal.

Easterling has the Giants trading down with the Saints from pick number seven to sixteen and nineteen. They get a dynamite receiver in Jameson Williams at 19 but scoring Johnson (6'5/260) is quite the coup. Potentially a top-five selection, being available at this point in the draft is quite a steal. He has the ability to rush inside and out, utilizing speed and power to win against offensive lineman. For a team that needs more pass rush outside of Azeez Ojulari, adding Johnson is a great start for Wink Martindale’s tenure.

This edge class is really deep and diverse. It also is divisive at the top and Johnson (6'5/260) is that way for Trapasso. His reasoning is that he lacks consistency with his hands and lacks burst. The hand consistency makes a lot of sense, but the burst is confusing. His 10-yard split is in the 97th percentile and shows explosion on tape. Johnson projects to be a top-15 selection with the potential to be a top-10 or even a top-five selection.

Johnson (6'5/260) impressed both during the season and in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, both things that have contributed to his ever-rising draft stock. Johnson brings a lot to the table for an NFL team, something several analysts have taken note of. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus is one of those people. “He has proven throughout this process that he’s a total package edge player and one of the best players in the draft,” Sikkema wrote.

Johnson (6'5"/260) is EDGE size and managed to run this type of 40-yard dash which is very encouraging. Johnson is a name that’s been on the rise, and if he continues to do well in the athletic testing he can really make a name for himself. He’s already getting mocked in the top half of the first round after his Senior Bowl, and he’s starting the combine well again.

Johnson’s (6'5/260) stock is certainly on the rise and during the media interviews at the combine, he was well aware of it. On Twitter, several writers praised Johnson on how he conducted himself during his media session. He was calm, collected, and showed confidence. One of the examples of that confidence was when he said he believes he could be a game-changer for whoever drafts him and is “the best defender in this class.” Most drafts have Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson as the top defensive player in the draft going in the top 2. As the athletic testing approaches, he has a chance to walk the walk.

There’s been plenty of hype surrounding Johnson (6'5/260) since he put on a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. He’s been popping up all over he first round in some of the latest mock drafts released and that includes one from Damian Parson of The Draft Network, who sent him to the New York Giants with pick No. 5. Here’s a look at what he had to say about that potential selection: “Lorenzo Carter has 14.5 sacks in four years with the Giants. Rookie Azeez Ojulari had eight in his first season in the league. Finding a consistent rush mate to pair with Ojulari will create issues for opposing offenses. Jermaine Johnson was effective and efficient during his limited snaps at Georgia. His lone season as a Seminole showcased his game-changing abilities. Pair that production with his dominance at the Senior Bowl earlier this month and his stock has risen—rightfully so. He pairs a great motor with length, physicality, and pass-rushing savvy to be a menace off the edges.”

Jeremiah mocking Johnson (6'5/260) to Denver with the ninth overall pick speaks volumes of Johnson’s rise since the conclusion of the season. Johnson impressed scouts and analysts alike at the Senior Bowl, and received multiple votes for “Practice Player of the Week”. Last season, Johnson totaled 46 quarterback pressures, 25 hurries, 14 sacks and 52 tackles per PFF.com. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming up, Johnson could continue to rise in the ranks with a strong performance.

The buzz around Johnson (6'5/260) has grown tremendously since his week at the Senior Bowl, where he put on a show in front of scouts and analysts all week long. Now, in his latest mock draft, McShay has Johnson going to the Cardinals in a move that would make a lot of sense. The Cardinals have an aging group of pass rushers, and Chandler Jones is set to be a free agent. The selection of Johnson would allow the Cardinals to get younger up front and give them a potentially elite EDGE rusher for years to come. Last season at FSU, Johnson totaled 14 sacks and 46 pressures per PFF.com.