Top OL prospect reveals three teams he wants to play for

Paris Johnson Jr. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Top OL prospect Paris Johnson Jr. reveals top three teams he wants to play for

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/5/23

Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. has a strong case to be the first offensive lineman picked in the 2023 NFL Draft.

A likely top-15 selection, Johnson Jr. recently disclosed on the latest episode of the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast hosted by former Titans tackle Taylor Lewan and linebacker Will Compton his wish list of teams that he’d like to play for if he had a say in where he gets drafted.

“For me personally, I feel like the first thing I look at is taxes,” Johnson Jr. said. “So, state taxes are big. It would be cool if I was a Titan. I feel like that would be cool. There’s no state taxes there, [it’s] warm. I would say realistically who needs a tackle, I would say Chicago, I would also say the Falcons. To be in Atlanta too would be huge.”

Atlanta has the No. 7 overall pick, while Chicago picks ninth and Tennessee 11th. All three teams could use an upgrade over their current left tackle.

1. Paris Johnson Jr
3. Broderick Jones
5. Dawned Jones

PFF’s Top 10 OTs in the 2023 NFL Draft⬇️https://t.co/wE41Djdg7P
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 26, 2023

Johnson Jr. was a consensus All-American in 2022, was named to the All-Big Ten first team and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, which honors the top down lineman in college football.

Per Pro Football Focus, Johnson Jr. played 925 pass-blocking snaps and allowed just three sacks and one quarterback hit across his three years at Ohio State. He allowed just two sacks and 14 pressures on 449 pass-blocking snaps in 2022 and he was the anchor of an offensive line that allowed the sixth-fewest tackles for loss (37).

Johnson Jr., who’s 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, switched from guard to tackle prior to the 2022 season, where he played 18 games, including 13 starts, in two seasons. Although he’s regarded as one of the top two tackles in the draft, Johnson Jr. didn’t rule out playing guard in the NFL in the right situation.

“I would [play guard],” Johnson Jr. said. “It’ doesn’t matter [left or right], especially in the guard world, you’re in a three-point stance. You can be either one.”

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