

You know, not taking the easy way out and staying true to my value and what I believe my value is, because anywhere along the way I could have devalued myself and taken the easy way out. When you look back at your journey to get here, what are you most proud of yourself for making it through to this point? It’s one of the days you dreamed about as a kid and, shoot, even sometimes I never thought I’d get here. Where’s the excitement level at with Draft night a day away? On Wednesday, Johnson spoke with Uproxx Sports from the P&G Style Lounge at the Delano on the Las Vegas strip to look back on his journey, what he wants teams to know about him as a player and person, and how he intends to be the next game wrecking pass rusher in the NFL. On Thursday night, Johnson figures to hear his name called in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft as one of the top edge rushers in this year’s class, a moment he admits there were times he never even thought was possible. That journey has given Johnson a perspective on life and football beyond what most 23-year-olds have, as well as an appreciation for what the game can provide and how quickly things can go away if the work isn’t properly put in. He’s gone from being academically ineligible coming out of high school to a star on Last Chance U to the Georgia Bulldogs and, finally, Florida State, where he broke out in 2021 to rocket up draft boards. He could set an edge or add pass rush at either spot, but also could move inside in a nascar-style package on third down pass-rush situations.Jermaine Johnson has seen a lot in his young football career. While at Georgia though he was a 3-4 edge rusher and played ok in coverage zones in his limited opportunities. Ideally, he’d play as a 4-3 defensive end.

Johnsons biggest strength is his versatility. His length gets him into the offensive lineman quickly, he has hands that are hard to move off of the player he’s engaging with, and even when he is stopped early on, he plays through the whole snap making blockers engage for the entire play at top level effort. This is where his length, hands, and pass rush moves come in to play. He isn’t a burner around the outside, so he needs other ways to win in order to be a double-digit sack guy regularly. The first step is not a false step often, and that get off allows him to win the corner and flatten well enough for it to be a weapon offensive tackles must honor at the NFL level. Johnson added 11.5 sacks his final season, and he has many tools to succeed when rushing the quarterback. That’s 25 percent of his total tackles going for a loss.Įdge rushers don’t get drafted in the first round because of their run stopping ability, though. This was evident by his 70 overall tackles and 17.5 tackles for a loss his last season at Florida State.

His length allows him to hold off blockers, shed the block, and bring down the ball carrier. Johnson plays the run game with a high level of intelligence, picking up what the offense is trying to do and attacking it. Hutchinson and Thibodeaux might be gone too early, but Johnson could be the answer. Dallas could look to save money one way or another by adding an early edge prospect to be a future starter on the team. Even if one or both are re-signed, Demarcus Lawrence is on a big contract that could make him a cap casualty sooner rather than later.
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Randy Gregory and Dorance Armstrong are free agents.

The Cowboys definitely have a need at the edge spot. Getting his college start in the junior college (JUCO) ranks, before transferring to Georgia as a rotational player is one reason he could fall below other prospects in the edge rush class, also his Senior Bowl week may have dampened the chances he slides to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. He showed his talent at Florida State as a redshirt senior. Jermaine Johnson II could be that player this time. There are other talents such as George Karlaftis, Travon Walker, David Ojabo, Logan Hall, and Cameron Thomas who could all go in the first round as well.Ī position this loaded could allow a very talented player to fall further then they should. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux are fighting to be the top pick of the draft.
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The 2022 draft is full of top shelf edge rush talent.
