2023 NFL draft grades: Panthers pick OLB D.J. Johnson at No. 80 overall

2023 NFL draft grades: Panthers pick Oregon linebacker D.J. Johnson at No. 80 overall, via @DillySanders

After going offense with their first two selections, the Carolina Panthers select outside linebacker D.J. Johnson out of Oregon in the third round.

Johnson, a former tight end, has added a lot of weight and strength to become a more power-focused pass rusher. He has a good bit of work to do in the run game. He had six sacks, but just two tackles for a loss in the run game last season for the Ducks.

He’ll be stuck in the depth chart for a while, not a pick of urgency for a team that still needs some bigger help elsewhere, especially when they traded up. Third round is a bit early for a work in progress player like Johnson, but he does have some potential.

Grade: D

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Rams 2023 Draft Prospect Profile: D.J. Johnson (Edge, Oregon)

The Rams need to improve their edge rusher position and D.J. Johnson is a viable Day 3 option in the 2023 NFL draft.

When discussing the team needs for the Los Angeles Rams entering the 2023 NFL draft, the edge rusher position should be a priority. Leonard Floyd gave the Rams plenty of production off of the edge in recent years, but he was released by the team earlier this offseason.

The only edge rusher on the current roster that has at least one sack in his career is Michael Hoecht, who transitioned from being an interior defender during the 2022 season. Regardless of what round it is, the Rams will likely use at least one of their 11 picks in the 2023 NFL draft on an edge rusher.

If the Rams want to select an edge defender on Day 3 of the draft, D.J. Johnson out of Oregon is a prospect that would make sense.