Paris Johnson Jr. selected in first round of 2023 NFL Draft

Paris Johnson Jr. has been a key piece for Ohio State since joining the program as a 5-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. After three strong seasons on the offensive line, Johnson made the jump to the NFL in this year’s draft.

Johnson was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 6 overall pick, which was traded by the Detroit Lions. He will likely compete for a starting spot as a rookie, either inside at guard or outside at one of the tackle positions.

A 6-foot-6 and 310-pound lineman, Johnson started all 13 games for the Buckeyes in the 2021 season at right guard. He earned second-team All-B1G honors in the process.

For 2022, Johnson slid to the outside as was always expected and thrived in the role. Johnson was a consensus first team All-American, a first team All-B1G and a finalist for the Lombardi Award.

At the NFL Combine, Johnson’s measurables all checked out in a major way, particularly arm length. An area of interest for any prospect looking to play tackle, Johnson’s arm length measured at 36 1/8″ and is long enough to become an elite tackle in the NFL.

Paris Johnson Jr.

Height: 6’6″
Weight: 313 pounds
Arm Length: 36 1/8″
Hand Size: 9 1/2″#RatedRookie | #NFLDraft

— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 5, 2023

Another key selling point for Johnson’s overall draft stock was his positional versatility with a season at guard and a season at tackle under his belt. While a team may want to develop Johnson into a cornerstone left tackle, it’s possible he sees some playing time on the inside early in his NFL career.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.