Tag: Eric Johnson

Packers host official pre-draft visit with Missouri State DL Eric Johnson

The Packers will host Missouri State’s Eric Johnson, one of the most athletic and experienced defensive linemen in the draft class, on a pre-draft visit.

The Green Bay Packers have hosted or will host Missouri State defensive lineman Eric Johnson on an official “top 30” pre-draft visit, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic.

Johnson (6-4, 299) is a redshirt senior who played in 55 career games over six years at Missouri State. He produced 19.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and four blocked field goals or extra points. During each of his last two seasons, he was a second-team all-conference selection.

Johnson, 23, wasn’t invited to the combine but did impress at the Senior Bowl. At his pro day, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds, hit 27.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 8-11 in the broad jump and finished the short shuttle in 4.66 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.58 seconds. He also put up 20 reps on the bench press.

Johnson’s Relative Athletic Score based on his pro day results is 9.15 out of 10.

Johnson has the kind of athleticism and length necessary for playing multiple positons along the defensive line in an odd-man front. The Packers could be looking for extra depth up front even after signing Jarran Reed.

Johnson is a projected mid-round pick. He is the No. 13 overall defensive lineman on Dane Brugler’s big board. The Packers have six picks on Day 3 of the draft, making Johnson a viable target.

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Report: Chargers hosting pair of prospects for top-30 visits

The Chargers are bringing in a defensive tackle and safety for top-30 visits ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Chargers are set to host Missouri State defensive tackle Eric Johnson and Virginia safety Joey Blount for top-30 visits, according to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo and The Athletic’s Greg Auman.

In addition, Los Angeles already brought in Florida offensive tackle Jean Delance for a visit, per Guilty As Charged’s Maddie Schmidt.

NFL teams can host up to 30 prospects at their facilities prior to the draft, where they are taken through final interviews, meetings, and physicals.

Johnson posted 43 tackles (19 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three pass breakups, and three blocked field goal kicks during 12 starts in 2021.

Johnson participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where his dominant performance raised the eyebrows of evaluators to the point where he was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

There, the 6-foot-4 and 299 pounder with 34 1/4-inch arms stood out, winning with his length, power in his punch and explosiveness off the snap.

Blount finished his collegiate career with 306 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 9 interceptions. He had 87 tackles and 3 interceptions in his final season.

At his Pro Day, the playmaking safety ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times, and amassed a 38-inch vertical leap and 10’7″ broad jump.

Delance possesses the ideal measurables and resume for an NFL offensive lineman at 6-foot-5 and 303 pounds with over 36-inch arms coupled with 37 SEC starts under his belt, playing both tackle and guard.

Delance was a key member of Gator’s starting five, keeping rushers at bay with his athleticism and vine-like arms, all while paving the way in the run game, as they ranked No. 4 in the SEC in rushing offense in 2021.

Chiefs 2022 7-round mock draft v2.0: Post-Tyreek Hill trade edition

Our @goldmctNFL reveals his 7-round 2022 mock draft 2.0 for the #Chiefs and the first since the Tyreek Hill trade:

There are less than 30 days to go until the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have loaded up on draft picks due to the Tyreek Hill trade, but they’ve also created an even greater need at the wide receiver position. This mock draft looks quite a bit different from our 1.0, not just because of the new draft picks, but also given our recent look at the 90-man offseason roster. There are plenty of needs to consider, both for the upcoming season, but also for the future in Kansas City.

In order to gauge player availability for the mock draft, I ran multiple simulations using the various mock draft machines to create a composite. If players weren’t available with regularity, they were eliminated from contention at a specific pick. Typically, I’d have 8-10 players on my big board to choose from at a given pick, though in Round 7 the pool is significantly larger.

Without further delay, here’s a look at our mock draft version 2.0:

2022 Senior Bowl: 4 potential Chargers DL/EDGE that stood out from Day 3

A look at some standout defensive linemen and edge defenders on Day 3 of the Senior Bowl that could’ve caught the Chargers’ attention.

The last day of practices at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl ended on Thursday.

While media access was limited to NFL teams, digital staff, local and broadcast media, I was still able to watch the film afterward and spot some players who made themselves some money in the trenches.

Here are four interior defensive linemen and edge defenders that stood out:

EDGE DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky

After flashing on Days 1 and 2, Malone continued his momentum into the final day. Not only did he display a quick first step, lower-body twitch, and looseness in his rushes, but he showed some power on a rep against Braxton Jones to bully him into the backfield. Keep in mind that Malone is only 234 pounds, making this even more impressive. With the explosiveness and length, Malone is the ideal mid-round edge defender that Brandon Staley should covet.

EDGE Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina

After posting four sacks, 45 pressures, 16 quarterback hits, and the highest pass-rush win rate among SEC defensive linemen (25.8%) in 2021, Enagbare flashed that type of dominance on the practice field. In college, he won primarily with his length (35-inch arms) and power, but Enagbare dug into the toolbox to show more variety with his rushes. Most notably, Enagbare beat Max Mitchell with a well-executed cross-chop. He is a player who possesses the ability to play inside and outside.

DT Neil Farrell Jr., LSU

Overshadowed by other SEC interior defensive linemen, Farrell did not get as much buzz throughout the season. However, his efforts were always noticed. Farrell finished with the fifth-most run stops (24) and the second-highest run-stop percentage (11.4), per Pro Football Focus. On almost every rep, Farrell was either controlling the point of attack to allow second-level defenders to roam freely or he was in the backfield, winning with the quickness to invade gaps, leverage in the team session or brute strength & powerful limbs to push blockers back and heavy hands to swat jab attempts in one-on-ones. Farrell is a strong candidate for a Day 3 selection.

DT Eric Johnson, Missouri State

Johnson’s dominance from the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was recognized by scouts, so they requested him to be sent to Mobile. After making the leap, Johnson showed that he belongs here with the cream of the crop. Boasting an NFL frame with great length, Johnson used that coupled with explosiveness to extend and lockout. From there, it was pure power to jolt guys back. Further, he flashed impressive agility and balance through contact.