Former Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, with the Cardinals trading up to take Johnson.
Johnson is Ohio State’s first offensive lineman to be selected in the opening round since 2018, when the Cincinnati Bengals picked Billy Price with the No. 21 overall pick, and he is the highest-selected offensive lineman from Ohio State since Orlando Pace was taken first overall in 1997. Johnson was the second Buckeye taken off the board in this draft behind quarterback C.J. Stroud, who went to the Houston Texans at No. 2.
Johnson joined the Buckeyes as a highly touted tackle prospect out of Cincinnati, playing his first three seasons at St. Xavier High School before closing out his high school career at Princeton High School. A consensus five-star prospect, Johnson was rated the top tackle and the No. 7 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class.
Although he brought a well-regarded reputation as a tackle to campus, Johnson primarily contributed at guard in his first two seasons with the Buckeyes. He appeared in five games, primarily at guard, as a true freshman before holding down the starting right guard spot in 2021, starting all 13 games for Ohio State.
Last season, Johnson slid over to his natural position on the edge, starting all 13 games for the Buckeyes at left tackle. At tackle, Johnson emerged as a consensus All-American while helping the Ohio State offense rack up 490.7 yards per game — ranking ninth in the nation — and 44.2 points per game, the second-best mark nationally.
While Johnson was a dominant presence on the field, he also boasted many accomplishments away from the gridiron. His charitable organization, the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation, was named the Armed Forces Merit Award winner — which is given to the individual or group with military background or involvement that has made an impact in college football — during the 2022 campaign. The foundation, which Johnson created as a high schooler, has raised around $15,000 for disabled veterans and disadvantaged student-athletes.
With Johnson boasting a well-rounded resume ahead of the NFL Draft, The Draft Network’s Joe Marino saw Johnson as a sure-fire first-round selection prior to draft night.
“A consensus five-star recruit from Cincinnati, Paris Johnson Jr. was the Buckeyes’ starter at right guard in 2021 before kicking over to left tackle in 2022,” Marino wrote. “While Johnson proved to be an impact starter for Ohio State, he’s also a standout in the classroom where he’s received a number of academic accolades. Johnson also has an extensive background in volunteering and has already established a foundation to help veterans and underprivileged children.
“Johnson came into his own in 2022 as Ohio State’s left tackle, especially as the season moved along and he gained more experience at his natural position after spending 2021 at right guard. Johnson is an explosive athlete with easy movement skills. He has exceptional range as a run blocker and can be trusted to execute longer pulls. He pairs top-end mobility with an impressive frame that features an athletic build with long limbs. Johnson has plenty of high-level flashes where his blend of size, power, and athleticism leads to dominant reps.”
