Tag: DJ Johnson

Projecting 2023 stats for Panthers rookie LB DJ Johnson

Although somewhat raw, can rookie LB DJ Johnson squeeze into the Panthers’ pass-rushing rotation in 2023?

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Carolina Panthers fans might’ve been caught off guard when general manager Scott Fitterer and company traded up to the 80th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. And they might’ve been caught even more off guard by the name on that card.

Nonetheless, the project out of the University of Oregon is set to begin.

One of the most unique prospects in the class, the potent pass rusher DJ Johnson served in multiple positions during his four-year career in Eugene. The linebacker made the transition to tight end during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign—having caught 10 passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns in the process.

Then, during his senior year in 2022, Johnson was finally able to settle down into his role as a classic rush backer. He even had a coming out party—totaling bests with 39 tackles (8.5 for a loss) and 6.5 sacks.

While the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder’s athletic profile and size is that of a first-rounder, his rawness at the spot dropped him down to the third round. It will be up to the Carolina coaching staff to bring the 24-year-old up to speed in his rookie season.

Part of the reason the front office likely felt comfortable taking a chance on Johnson, is the defensive coaching staff they put together. The group, of course, is headed by one of the fastest rising and most respected minds in the game—defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

There is a clear need for an edge rusher opposite Brian Burns as Yetur Gross-Matos has not exactly fit the bill—and it is likely Johnson will be given every opportunity to earn that role. He is already an effective rusher despite his lack of a premier tool box and is a big piece of clay waiting to be molded.

If he can pick up on some of the finer details of the craft, Johnson could be a surprise rookie for Carolina.

Tackles Tackles for loss Sacks
24 9.0 7.0

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How does Panthers’ 2023 draft grade out in consensus rankings?

If the Panthers’ 2023 NFL draft haul could be boiled down to a GPA, this would be it:

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Have you ever had a test graded by every single teacher in your school? Well, the Carolina Panthers just have . . . kind of.

Twitter user René Bugner recently rounded up 2023 NFL draft grades from 29 evaluators across the web. Using those marks, Bugner compiled a cumulative grade point average (GPA) for each of the league’s 32 teams.

Here’s how the grades stack up:

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, who got in in Bugner’s action, had the following to add about the Panthers’ 2023 class:

The success of this draft of course depends on how well Young plays at the next level. I might have preferred C.J. Stroud here, especially given what the Panthers had to spend for the first overall pick, but we’re splitting hairs here. If Young was 6-foot-2 and weighed 220 pounds, nobody would have a question, and he has every other attribute you want in a franchise quarterback. Mingo might be a bit of an overdraft here to me, but there are a lot of people I respect who like him better than I do.

Johnson is a hybrid end whose production last season made him a bit underrated, and I absolutely love the last two picks. Zavala is one of the better power guards in this class, and he has a positive history with former college teammate Ikem Ekwonu. And Robinson might be a bit undersized, but you wouldn’t know it when you’re watching his tape — he has a tonesetter’s alpha personality that shows up all over the place. The Panthers were clearly going for players who could win in the locker room as well as on the field.

Will a 3.12 GPA, however, translate into winning on the field? Can the wiz kid Bryce Young lead his fellow rookie teammates (and the rest of the Panthers, for that matter) in acing the 2023 season?

That’s another test for another time. So study up, cats.

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Panthers LB DJ Johnson: I gotta earn the right to pass rush

Panthers LB DJ Johnson, who said he had a dope experience at rookie minicamp, realizes the job that’s ahead of him.

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The Carolina Panthers knew they were entering a process when they traded up to draft DJ Johnson two weeks ago—and apparently, so does he.

Johnson spoke with reporters following the second and final installment of rookie minicamp on Saturday afternoon. When asked about having to “set the edge,” a phrase brought up numerous times by general manager Scott Fitterer in regards to the upside of the outside linebacker, he acknowledged what lies ahead of him.

“You gotta earn the right to pass rush,” Johnson stated. “Stoppin’ the run is the first thing and as an outside backer, my job is to set the edge. So it’s a big focus.”

2023’s 80th overall selection, Johnson comes in a bit on the raw side. The 24-year-old even played some tight end during his collegiate career before firmly settling in on defense.

But what Johnson may lack in experience as a pass rusher, he has in that aforementioned upside. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, as far as an athletic profile, compares closely to fellow edge defenders in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Allen, Whitney Mercilus and Will Anderson Jr.—all of which were first-round selections.

It’s just a matter of if he reaches that potential, something Fitterer and the Panthers could certainly use on the edge—whether he’s setting it or flying off of it.

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Uniform numbers for Panthers’ 2023 draft class revealed

Here are the uniform numbers for the Panthers’ five 2023 draftees.

No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young wasn’t the only member of the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 draft class that officially got his digit this morning.

Here are the uniform numbers, as announced by the team on Tuesday, for the entire group.

Salary cap details for Panthers’ 2023 draft class

Here are the salary cap details for each of the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 draftees.

Courtesy of the good folks over at Spotrac, let’s take a look at the salary cap details (when they are signed, sealed and delivered) for each of the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 draftees.

Spider graphs for Panthers’ entire 2023 draft class

Here are the webs the newest Panthers spun back at this year’s combine.

The 2023 NFL draft was a pretty important one for the Carolina Panthers. But, they came away with just five players—two of which didn’t do much at the combine a few months back.

Nonetheless, we’re continuing our collective looks into this year’s class and—in this very case—rounding up their athletic testing from Indianapolis. So, here are the group’s spider graphs from what they did (and didn’t do) at Lucas Oil Stadium in March.

Relative Athletic Scores for Panthers’ entire 2023 draft class

How athletic is the Panthers’ 2023 draft class? Let’s take a look at the RAS metrics for the group.

The Carolina Panthers may have gotten themselves a franchise quarterback from the 2023 NFL draft, but they did find themselves some high-end athletes as well?

Let’s see what Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) metrics say about this year’s class.

WATCH: Every draft call for Panthers’ 2023 class

The Panthers gave us an inside look and listen into the draft calls for each of their 2023 selections.

Young football players who aspire to reach the NFL work much of their lives to get “the call.” It’s a moment of excitement, relief, validation and—for some—motivation.

And, luckily for us, the Carolina Panthers provided an inside look at each of those rings for their 2023 draft class. Here they are . . .

Panthers fans react to selection of 80th overall pick DJ Johnson

Panthers fans are still trying to figure out whether or not they’re onboard with their team’s third-round selection of DJ Johnson.

With the 80th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, a spot they had to jump up into, the Carolina Panthers selected University of Oregon outside linebacker DJ Johnson. And although the athletic 6-foot-4, 260-pounder is still piecing his potent game together, fans seemed a bit puzzled by the move.

Here are some of the faithful’s reaction to the selection.