Tag: Desjuan Johnson

6 Rams to watch in preseason finale vs. Broncos

The Rams will take on the Broncos this Saturday to finish their preseason schedule and we have 6 players to watch in the matchup.

The Los Angeles Rams are set to conclude their preseason schedule versus the Denver Broncos on Saturday. This is the last chance for players to get live-action reps in hopes of carving out a roster spot for the Rams ahead of the 2023 season.

The Rams are 0-2 in their first two preseason contests, losing to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. Even though wins don’t matter in the preseason, Sean McVay will want to see improvements across the board on Saturday.

With the Rams set to face the Broncos on the road in the third week of the preseason, here are six players to keep an eye on.

6 Rams rookies to watch during training camp this year

Here are six rookies for Rams fans to keep an eye on during training camp this year.

The Los Angeles Rams are gearing up to begin their training camp festivities, and this year is an entirely different challenge for Sean McVay and company. Following a disastrous 2022 campaign, the Rams have reshaped their roster for the upcoming season, which will unquestionably have a fair share of rookies and inexperienced players in significant roles.

During the 2023 NFL draft, the Rams made 14 selections in the seven rounds. Los Angeles also has 22 undrafted rookies set to compete for roster spots in training camp in the coming weeks.

With 36 total first-year players on the current roster, here are six rookies to watch for as the Rams begin training camp.

Desjuan Johnson learning everything he can from Aaron Donald on and off the field

Rams rookie Desjuan Johnson is trying to be a sponge around Aaron Donald, soaking up everything he can from the All-Pro

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Desjuan Johnson landed in a fantastic situation with the Los Angeles Rams as the final pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Not only did he join a team that desperately needs defensive line help after letting Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson leave, but he’s now teammates with Aaron Donald.

Johnson said previously that he watched Donald a lot in college, hoping to learn a thing or two from the future Hall of Famer. He no longer has to watch film of Donald because he has a front-row seat to the show Aaron puts on every day in practice and on game days.

“I’ve been trying to be like a sponge, just trying to learn everything I can from him on the field and off the field,” Johnson said on NFL Network. “Throughout college, I tried to model my game like him so everything he did, I was trying to do in college. But now I get to do everything right next to him. It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Oh, what is Aaron Donald doing?’ No, I’m sitting here watching what Aaron Donald’s doing. So, just taking notes, taking everything he does on the field and off the field.”

Johnson won’t be assured a spot on the 53-man roster, even though he was drafted by the Rams. He’ll need to earn a place on the team, battling with others such as Jonah Williams, Earnest Brown IV, Larrell Murchison and T.J. Carter.

Johnson’s clearest path to playing time in 2023 is as a backup to Donald at defensive tackle, seeing as they play the same position and are almost the same size. Both are about 285 pounds and don’t have the length that many teams covet along the defensive line, but Johnson is powerful and tough up front, similar to the way Donald is. He obviously doesn’t have the same level of quickness that Donald does because, well, no one does, but Johnson has potential as a pro.

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Rams officially sign Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson

The Rams are in the process of signing their draft picks and they’re starting with Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson

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The Los Angeles Rams are never a team that races to sign their draft picks each year. They take their time, often being one of the last to ink their draft class.

They’ve begun the process of getting their rookies under contract and they’re starting with the final pick in the draft: Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson. According to his agent, the Rams have signed Johnson to his rookie deal, which will span four years.

Johnson was selected 259th overall in the draft this year, a pick the Rams acquired in a trade earlier on Day 3. He hails from Toledo where he was a three-time All-MAC selection, including a first-team pick in 2022.

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Desjuan Johnson embracing title of Mr. Irrelevant, ready to prove himself in NFL

Desjuan Johnson isn’t bothered at all by the title of Mr. Irrelevant

The Los Angeles Rams made a trade during the third day of the draft to acquire the final pick in the seventh round, which came at No. 259 overall. The last player picked in every draft is called Mr. Irrelevant, a title that went to Desjuan Johnson this year.

Johnson, a defensive tackle out of Toledo, isn’t bothered at all by that nickname. He’s just ready to prove himself as a member of the Rams in an attempt to make the 53-man roster as a rookie.

“Call me Mr. Irrelevant. I ain’t trippin’. I’m just ready to play football,” he told WTOL11. “Everybody was making it seem bad. Like, it’s just a name. I understand the things that come with it and everything, but at the end of the day, I got picked and I’m ready to prove that I’m there and I’m ready to play.”

Johnson adds depth to the defensive line, which lost Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson this offseason. He joins fellow rookie Kobie Turner as new additions to the D-line, and both players will try their best to carve out roles alongside Aaron Donald.

Right now, Johnson is just trying to learn as much as he can.

“Trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible,” he said.

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Rams added 2 of PFF’s 6 highest-graded DTs in 2023 NFL draft

Kobie Turner and Desjuan Johnson were among PFF’s highest-graded DTs in college before being selected by the Rams.

Throughout the 2023 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams made a concerted effort to improve in the trenches on both sides of the ball. And with the selections of Kobie Turner and Desjuan Johnson during this year’s draft, the Rams added two of PFF’s highest-graded interior defenders in terms of career grades.

With the 89th overall pick in the third round of the draft, the Rams took Turner out of Wake Forest. Turned transferred from Richmond to Wake Forest in 2022, where he would produce 38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two sacks.

The Wake Forest product had the highest career grade among interior defenders, according to PFF. Turner even had a higher grade than guys like Jalen Carter and Calijah Kancey, who were both taken in the first round.

After making a trade with the Houston Texans on Day 3 of the draft, the Rams ended up having the final pick in the 2023 NFL draft. With that, they selected Johnson out of Toledo with the 259th overall pick.

Johnson finished with the sixth-best PFF grade among the draft-eligible interior defensive linemen, putting him only two spots behind Carter. In his final two seasons at Toledo, Johnson accumulated 135 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

While PFF grades aren’t the end-all, be-all for players, the Rams certainly got two interior defenders that have upside.

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Meet this year’s Mr. Irrelevant: Toledo DE Desjuan Johnson

This year’s Mr. Irrelevant is Toledo defensive end Desjuan Johnson.

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and we have a brand-new Mr. Irrelevant.

While the title “Mr. Irrelevant” never really means a player won’t matter in the NFL, it’s a special honor for the player who made it right under the cut to say he was drafted by a team before undrafted free agency begins.

This year’s Mr. Irrelevant is Toledo defensive end Desjuan Johnson, who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 259th pick in the draft’s seventh round.

Will Johnson have the same impact on his team that 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy have on the San Francisco 49ers? Will he even make the team?

That’ll be up to him, but the Rams liked him enough to make him the final selection of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kudos to Johnson for hearing his name called for the draft’s last pick, and kudos to everyone who got selected in the seven rounds of this year’s draft cycle.

Even if you didn’t get drafted, don’t worry. Undrafted guys make league impacts all the time.

2023 NFL draft: Rams make Toledo’s Desjuan Johnson Mr. Irrelevant with 259th and final pick

The Rams had the 259th and final pick in the 2023 NFL draft and chose Toledo’s Desjuan Johnson as Mr. Irrevelant

The Los Angeles Rams swung a deal with the Houston Texans for the 259th pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

That would be the final choice in this process and it makes DesJuan Johnson, a defensive tackle from Toledo. Mr. Irrelevant.

Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 285-pound senior for the Rockets.

UTRockets.com offers the information on Johnson:

2022
Named pre-season First-Team All-MAC by Athlon.

2021
Second-Team All-MAC…70 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL…Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for performance vs. WMU…Six tackles, 2.0 TFL,  one sack, one QBH and forced a fumble that was taken in for a TD…Six tackles, 2.5 TFL vs. Ball State…1.5 sacks vs. EMU……Four tackles, one forced fumble vs. Notre Dame…11 tackles, 2.5 TFL, one QBH vs. NIU…On the preseason watch list for two national defensive player of the year awards, the Bednarik Award and Bronko Naguski Trophy.

2020
Second-team All-MAC…Fourth on the team with 27 tackles… Led team with 8.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks…Nine tackles vs. Ball State…2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks vs. EMU.

2019
32 tackles, 7.0 TFL, and five QB hurries…Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss vs. Central Michigan…Four tackles against Northern Illinois…Six tackles vs. BYU, including one sack, a tackle for loss, another tackle for no gain and a QB hurry.

2018
Played in 11 games, making 17 tackles…Season-high four tackles vs. Fresno State.

High School
Three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports…Helped East English Village Prep to an MHSAA Division II district final appearance as a senior and a 9-2 record…High school coach was Rod Oden.

Personal
Full name is Desjuan Renarl Johnson…Parents are Dion Johnson and Lacreasia Stegar…Father played football at Kansas…Has three brothers, Dion, Dejon and Derion, and two sisters, Dionjanae and Darelle…Interdisciplinary studies major.

Every Mr. Irrelevant

 

Year Name Team (Pos.) Game Appearances
2022 Brock Purdy 49ers (QB) 9
Year Name Team (Pos.) Game Appearances
2019 Caleb Wilson Cardinals (TE) 5
2018 Trey Quinn Redskins (WR) 15
2017 Chad Kelly Broncos (QB) 1
2016 Kalan Reed Titans (CB) 7
2015 Gerald Christian Cardinals (TE) 3
2014 Lonnie Ballentine Texans (S) 4
2013 Justice Cunningham Colts (TE) 4
2012 Chandler Harnish Colts (QB) 0
2011 Cheta Ozougwu Texans (DE) 9
2010 Tim Toone Lions (WR) 0
2009 Ryan Succop Chiefs (K) 166
2008 David Vobora Rams (OLB) 40
2007 Ramzee Robinson Lions (CB) 26
2006 Kevin McMahan Raiders (WR) 0
2005 Andy Stokes Patriots (TE) 0
2004 Andre Sommersell Raiders (LB) 0
2003 Ryan Hoag Raiders (WR) 0
2002 Ahmad Miller Texans (DT) 0
2001 Tevita Ofahengaue Cardinals (TE) 0
2000 Michael Green Bears (DB) 104
1999 Jim Finn Bears (RB) 106
1998 Cam Quayle Ravens (TE) 0
1997 Ronnie McAda Packers (QB) 0
1996 Sam Manuel 49ers (LB) 0
1995 Michael Reed Panthers (DB) 0
1994 Marty Moore Patriots (LB) 112
1993 Daron Alcorn Buccaneers (K) 0
1992 Matt Elliott Redskins (C) 63
1991 Larry Wanke Giants (QB) 0
1990 Demetrius Davis Raiders (TE) 0
1989 Everett Ross Vikings (WR) 0
1988 Jeff Beathard Rams (WR) 0
1987 Norman Jefferson Packers (DB) 14
1986 Mike Travis Chargers (DB) 0
1985 Donald Chumley 49ers (DT) 0
1984 Randy Essington Raiders (QB) 0
1983 John Tuggle Giants (RB) 16
1982 Tim Washington 49ers (DB) 2
1981 Phil Nelson Raiders (TE) 0
1980 Tyrone McGriff Steelers (G) 36
1979 Mike Almond Steelers (WR) 0
1978 Lee Washburn Cowboys (G) 0
1977 Jim Kelleher Vikings (RB) 0
1976 Kelvin Kirk Steelers (WR) 0

 

Chiefs hosted Toledo DL Desjuan Johnson on top-30 visit

The #Chiefs hosted a defensive lineman on a top-30 visit who they previously met with at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently hosted a defensive lineman for a top-30 visit who they previously met with at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the Chiefs had Toledo defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson in town for a top-30 visit. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Johnson posted a highly-productive season for the Rockets in 2022, culminating in a First-Team All-MAC selection. Johnson recorded 65 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 36 stops, 5.5 sacks, 42 pressures and one interception on the season.

What stands out most about Johnson is his explosive first step. During Toledo’s pro day, he posted a 1.7 10-yard split, which would have ranked second to only Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

His height and weight suggest that Johnson could be a bit of a tweener at the NFL level. He has the ability to play on the edge, but also positional flexibility to play in the B-Gap. In Kansas City, I suspect they’d look at him as a two-down base defensive end with the ability to reduce down to the interior on third and fourth down.

Johnson currently projects as a Day 3 draft pick or priority undrafted free agent signing. Remember, the Chiefs often use top-30 visits as a recruiting tool should high-value prospects become undrafted free agents.

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Lions meet with Toledo DT Desjuan Johnson on a pre-draft visit

Johnson is a Detroit native who stood out at the Shrine Bowl

The Detroit Lions continue to use many of their “top 30” pre-draft visits on defensive line prospects. One of the latest to officially meet with the Lions is Dejuan Johnson from Toledo.

Johnson confirmed his visit with Detroit via Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Johnson was an effective jack-of-all-trades for the Rockets. He lined up at both end and tackle, producing 10 sacks and 30.5 TFLs in the last two seasons. Johnson is a Detroit native who bulked up from 240 pounds as a freshman defensive end back in 2018.

He previously met with the Lions at the Shrine Bowl in January, where Johnson was one of the standouts in 1-on-1 pass rush drills.

 

Lions held pre-draft visit with Alabama EDGE Will Anderson

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