Paris Johnson Jr. established himself as arguably the best offensive tackle in the 2023 draft class. It’s not hard to see why. He’s 6’7 with 36-inch arms and has the mobility of a tight end despite weighing well over 300 lbs. Guys with his skillset don’t grow on trees. He was dominant down the stretch last year for Ohio State, helping quarterback C.J. Stroud ensure he becomes a top-two pick in this draft. What Johnson doesn’t know is where he himself will end up. Projections are all over the place. Some see him going in the bottom half of the top 10. Others can see him landing in the mid-teens.
So what if he had a choice in the matter? Johnson appeared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast hosted by NFL offensive linemen Taylor Lewan and Will Compton. They spoke to him about his hopes for the draft and where he might like to land. He said it would be nice to land somewhere warm like Miami. He also mentioned his hometown Cincinnati Bengals. However, there are three teams he has his eye on as ideal landing spots. The first team out of his mouth? The Chicago Bears.
Paris Johnson having interest in Chicago isn’t a surprise.
They have a glaring need at tackle, so it guarantees he would play immediately. Johnson made it clear he has no preference about which side he plays on. While he was a left tackle in 2022, he played right guard the year before. So he’s familiar with both sides of the line. His goal is to play right away. Then there is the positive impression the Bears made on him. Johnson singled out his interview with GM Ryan Poles and the coaching staff at the scouting combine as one that left an impression on him. It was the most enjoyable he had, because of their ability to make it fun for him with putt-putt or darts and their natural discussions about football.
Last but not least, it’s clear Paris Johnson would love to reunite with Justin Fields. The two were teammates in 2020, and the quarterback left a strong impression on the young lineman. They didn’t play together much, but Fields’ leadership ability shined through regardless. Johnson would love the opportunity to block for him as the Bears quarterback continues his quest for greatness in the NFL. Nobody can say what Poles has planned. If he does take Johnson, plenty of people will be happy, including the player himself.
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Seems like a good kid. Him or Skronk. No reason to trade down. Live with your Claypool mistake and move on.
Boorish Martin loves to see his bloated ego in writing, jacka$$
If we draft him I hope he works out. But I’m not nearly as infatuated with him as some people. He played left tackle for one year in college. Braxton played left tackle for one year in the pros. I’d stick to finding a long term answer on the right side. Two months ago every thing I read said that the Bears struck gold with Braxton. Now he’s worse than a guy who never took a snap? Something doesn’t add up. Couldn’t be draft hype…
Gator Joe: It’s likely that the first ‘tackle’ off the board will be Johnson or Skoronski (Skoronski is the reason tackle is in quotes), with the possibility of Broderick Jones. The chances that Johnson falls to #16 are very small. The question Poles has to ask is does he want Johnson at #9, or does he want someone like Darnell Wright around #18, Anton Harrison around #24, or Jaelan Duncan late second/early third, and another late second round pick (or possibly a first round pick next year). Glad it’s not my job to figure that out. Canuck Boy: I agree… Read more »
Yeah “putt-putt” and darts — the old Vince Lombardi “secret formula” for success in the NFL.
I’m convinced. Ryan Poles IS a genius!