Jets Country 2022 Draft Review: Jermaine Johnson Flashes Pass Rush Potential
Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
Pick No. 26 (Round 1)
Defensive End
2022 Games Played: 14 (0 starts)
Jets Country Re-Grade: C+
After taking two Ohio-based prospects at No. 4 and No. 10 overall, the New York Jets traded up for a third first-round selection to draft Florida State's Jermaine Johnson.
"They said they'd come get me," said Johnson on Draft night about an apparent promise Jets' brass made to him during his top-30 visit.
Jets' general manager Joe Douglas labeled Johnson as one of the top-eight overall prospects on the team's draft board.
"We were very surprised he was there in the late 20’s," said Douglas. "Coach [Robert Saleh] and I got together and said, 'let’s start getting him,' probably around 15, 'let’s start trying to make a move to get him.'"
Selected at No. 26 overall, the 6-foot-5 defensive end never seriously challenged teammate Sauce Gardner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but the pro potential is there for the late first-rounder.
Johnson totaled 14 appearances as a first-year player, accounting for 29 combined stops and 2.5 sacks. The edge defender missed a three-game stretch in October due to an ankle injury sustained during the second half of a Week 5 win over Miami.
The rotational defensive end, who was credited with a quarterback hit in five different appearances, never played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in a game.
Johnson contributed weekly on special teams, accounting for one of his most-memorable moments on the punt block unit. Midway through the fourth quarter in Week 13, the lengthy rusher stuffed Buffalo Bills' punter Sam Martin and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a safety.
The Bills seemed to bring out the best in the rookie defensive end.
In the Jets' Week 9 home win over Buffalo, Johnson recorded a key first-down sack with game tied at 17-17 in fourth quarter.
The November 6 victory marked Johnson's first game back from the ankle injury.
"This team is my family. I'm a family guy so to be able to contribute, especially towards a win, is awesome," said Johnson in an upbeat postgame locker-room.
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