Packers Showing Interest In Intriguing Young Defensive Lineman

The Green Bay Packers are going to likely be in the market for some pass-rushing help this offseason. With Rashan Gary suffering a torn ACL in Week 9 last season, the team was left thin in that department outside of Preston Smith.

With Gary’s timetable to return a bit up in the air, as he could very well miss a large chunk of the 2023 season, Green Bay will be on the lookout for pass-rushing help. Free agency offers some veteran options, such as Jadeveon Clowney or Zach Allen. Both players are capable of not only getting after the quarterback but setting the edge in the running game as well.

The Packers could also look to the 2023 NFL Draft to find players capable of getting after the quarterback. One name to keep an eye on for them according to Paul Bretl on Twitter is Desjuan Johnson.

Johnson is an interior defensive lineman from Toledo that turned some heads during the Shrine Bowl. He was reportedly unblockable there and his stock is on the rise as a result. The Packers were one of 11 teams to meet with Johnson in Las Vegas as he is quickly becoming a popular prospect.

Without an invite to the 2023 NFL Combine, that was Johnson’s time to shine and he made the most of it. He brings a ton of experience to the table with nearly 2,100 snaps played with the Rockets. His game is versatile as 918 of those snaps came in the B-gap according to PFF.

He was disruptive in 2022, continually making plays in the opponent’s backfield. Johnson finished the season with 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 42 pressures and 36 stops. A player that gets it done in the running game as much as he can rush the passer from the defensive tackle spot provides a huge advantage for a defense.

Johnson is shaping up to be a Day 3 selection, but whoever is lucky enough to land him is getting an impressive player. He will be motivated to prove people wrong after not even receiving a combine invite and the Packers would benefit greatly from adding him to their defensive line rotation.