Cardinals Rookie Profile: Paris Johnson Jr.

In a new series of player profiles for the 2023 Arizona Cardinals draft class, we start with day one selection and future left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

The Arizona Cardinals had a loaded 2023 NFL Draft haul in Monti Ossenfort's first year as a general manager. With nine picks made and several trades throughout the draft, the Cardinals have made nice strides in reshaping this roster.

As we take a look at this draft class and break them down into player profiles, we naturally have to start with the number six overall pick, Paris Johnson Jr., who hopes to transcend the offensive line. 

Johnson Jr. was made a top-10 pick after the Cardinals initially traded out of the top 10 and then decided to move back up to secure his talents. The thought process is that Johnson Jr. has the talent to become the franchise left tackle the team has been searching for for generations.

These are lofty expectations for sure and we are here to break him down piece by piece so that you understand everything there is to know about the incoming first-round pick. 

Between his career accomplishments and his role in 2023, we will begin to take a look here.

Accomplishments

• Consensus Five-Star High School Prospect (Seventh overall prospect, number one offensive tackle prospect) - 2020 recruiting class
• Anthony Munoz Offensive Lineman of the Year at Princeton High School
• Started 31 career games (13 at left tackle, 13 at right guard, 5 at left guard)
• 2022 Consensus All-American
• 2022 First-Team All-Big Ten
• 2022 Second-Team All-Big Ten
• 2023 NFL Draft profile

2023 NFL Draft Profile

• Two-year starter with experience inside at both guard spots and at left tackle
• Prototype build at 6'6" 313lbs. with above average arm length (36 1/8") and good functional strength (29 bench reps)
• Former highly recruited prospect who translated at a top-program

What The Tape Shows

Johnson Jr. looks like a very comfortable and confident player on the left side of the line and an equally adept player on the inside. Johnson Jr. is a smooth operator who uses his length to his advantage and wins the majority of his reps. Combined with his terrific footwork and hand placement, Johnson Jr. ticks just about everything on your checklist at the position and regardless of his interior play, looks the part of a franchise left tackle.

With this in mind, there is of course room for improvement. Johnson Jr. plays well, but his length and overall athleticism leave you wanting more. It looks as though Johnson Jr. has yet to reach his full potential. Whether or not he'll get there has yet to be seen, but he has shown steady growth every year.

Projected Role for 2023

With D.J. Humphries entrenched at left tackle for 2023 and minimal cap savings for 2024, Johnson Jr. may be looking at playing on the inside of the offensive line for at least the first year of his NFL career, if not his first two years. 

There is always the potential for him to go to the right side of the line, but that transition is not nearly as easy as many make it out to be. For immediate success, he should play guard for 2023 and perhaps play at a Pro Bowl-level in year one.

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