The 2023 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 this year, emanating LIVE from Kansas City, Missouri. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. New general manager Ran Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 11th overall selection. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to, have met with, who make sense for the Titans, or who are for some reason being mocked to the Titans even though they don’t really have a need at the position. Whatever – there are no rules here. Today, we’re lookin’ at Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr..
I ran over to PFF’s mock draft simulator last week and proceeded to draft six or seven offensive linemen to the Titans. Nothing but o-line in this mock! I took it to Twitter to share with a sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek message: “I think I just fixed the Titans.” Was it an exaggeration? Sure. We’re just having fun here, folks. But, the heart of the message rings true – this team has a downright mess on its hands when it comes to the offensive line. There’s a solid chance that they’ll find themselves having to replace four starters along the offensive line. Nicholas Petit-Frere was good enough as a rookie to hold down that right tackle spot for the time being. But, everything else is fair game, especially now that the Titans have cut Taylor Lewan. They need their franchise left tackle, and Johnson looks like the only sure thing in this draft class at the position.
Johnson chose Ohio State as the top ranked offensive lineman of his class and a bona fide five-star recruit. He began his career with the Buckeyes playing guard before kicking out to play left tackle throughout the 2022 campaign. He was a consensus All-American in 2022, with First-Team All-Big-Ten honors under his belt to boot. This, a year after receiving Second-Team All-Big-Ten honors. He has the pedigree of success – it has followed him at every level so far. As for how he got there and how his game translates to the next level, the guy just plain looks like the quintessential modern left tackle in today’s NFL.
He’s athletic and aggressive. While folks are lauding his pass protection skill set, I think he’s a little underrated in his run blocking. He’s a wrecking ball at the second level. While he might not overpower guys, he moves ‘em outside and away from the play. He’s not necessarily a driver, but more so a “popper,” to put it quite bluntly. That initial contact is going to fucking POP! He looks like he can be a plug-and-play left tackle in a zone-running scheme for the next decade. His drop-and-set ability in pass protection is football porn. I’ll be honest with you guys – I have a hard time finding a real weakness to his game – overall power? Consistent power? Power at the point of attack? I’ve seen it said multiple ways…I don’t know how you want to phrase it…sure, he could stand to just plain get a little stronger. But, by and large, he’s a pretty spotless offensive line prospect. The Draft Network compares him to Charles Cross, and if you kept up with last year’s NFL Draft big board here on the SoBros Patreon, you already know how much I loved Cross. Johnson looks like a chippier Cross in my opinion.
Now, if the Titans decide Johnson is their guy, it may be tricky to get him without moving up. I don’t know that he’s there at #11. If he is, my ass is doing cartwheels to the podium to select him. I’ve watched a lot of offensive linemen this offseason, and while I still have to try and dig up some Anton Harrison tape, of all the guys I’ve watched, Johnson is clearly the cream of the crop. So, I wouldn’t be surprised for him to be gone in the top five to seven picks. Maybe this is a hot take, but if Johnson is gone, I don’t think I’m drafting an offensive lineman at #11. I don’t see a whole lot of disparity between the #2 ranked offensive tackle in this draft, and the #10 guy, for instance. They’d be better served using that #11 pick on one of the top cornerbacks, maybe a wide receiver (though I’m not as high on this class at the top as others are), a pass rusher…hell, maybe even a quarterback if Anthony Richardson is still there. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a good, deep offensive line class, but Johnson is the dude.
Further Reading: For the Buckeyes’ Paris Johnson Jr., giving to those in need is a season that lasts 365 days a year
2023 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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