Tag: Paris Johnson Jr.

Former Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. dominated this weekend

PJJ dominated this weekend against Atlanta

The highest selected [autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag] offensive lineman since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall in 1997 was [autotag]Paris Johnson Jr.[/autotag] this past April.

The monster former Buckeye tackle was selected with the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals and was immediately inserted into the starting lineup.

Over the first nine weeks of the season, the Cardinals were without franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, as he recovered from an ACL injury. One of the biggest reasons why Arizona selected Johnson Jr., was to protect the former Heisman winner.

Paris did exactly that this weekend with the Cardinals getting their second win of the season, largely in part of an absolutely dominant performance against the Atlanta Falcons. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson Jr. faced a pass rush 40 times, allowed zero pressures and graded out an impressive 81.7 passing blocking grade.

No one questioned the selection of Johnson Jr. and he is backing up his draft spot by playing elite football. Keep it up Paris!

Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.

Giants vs. Cardinals: 5 things to know about Week 2

The New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 2, so here are five things fans should know.

The New York Giants (0-1) head out to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) this Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium.

Here are five things to know before the Week 2 game.

Gimme Him: One player Giants would steal from Cardinals

The New York Giants still have several roster needs, especially along the OL, so this theft from the Arizona Cardinals seemed obvious.

The New York Giants (0-1) will visit the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday in their second game of the 2023 regular season.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Giants Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Cardinals’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades for Big Blue.

In looking over Arizona’s roster, there’s not much that leaps off the page. They’re a rebuilding franchise with a gutted roster and precious few staple building blocks — especially at areas of need for the Giants.

But that’s not to say there aren’t a few.

There is Azeez Ojulari’s younger brother, linebacker BJ Ojulari, as well as safety Budda Baker and punter Matt Prater. But the Giants’ most glaring need — as usual — comes along the offensive line.

For that reason, we’re going to steal 22-year-old right tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

Johnson was the first offensive tackle taken in the 2023 NFL draft, going sixth overall, after a standout college career at Ohio State. He was First-Team All-Big Ten and a Consensus All-American as a senior in 2022 and Second-team All-Big Ten in 2021.

The Giants obviously have Andrew Thomas locked in at left tackle but right tackle is becoming more of a concern. Evan Neal struggled as a rookie and played poorly in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. The team’s swing tackle, Matt Peart, underwhelmed during the preseason and, like Thomas, was injured last Sunday.

Johnson is obviously very young and there’s no telling how his NFL career will develop, but out of everyone on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster, he seems like the best potential option for the Giants in this exercise.

What are your thoughts, Giants fans? Would you pick Paris Johnson Jr. or would you steal an entirely different player from the Arizona Cardinals?

[lawrence-related id=715437,715407,715409]

Ohio State football All Madden 24 team – Offense

We kick off our All Madden 24 Ohio State football team starting with the offense. #GoBucks

The release of Madden NFL player ratings always ignites debates around the football world. The ratings tend to draw criticism from fans and even from players themselves.

This was no different this year as the Madden 24 ratings were recently released. While the ratings are far from perfect, they’re still a good way to evaluate players and teams. These ratings featured a total of 60 former Ohio State players. The ratings are a good way to evaluate which college program has the best alumni in the NFL.

Former alumni of college programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, and Clemson all have a very good collection of former players in the NFL right now.

It’s always fun to compile a list of players that would be on an All-Ohio State NFL team based on Madden 24 ratings, starting with the offense for this year’s team. Feel free to replicate and dominate the beloved game.

Watch: Inside the Arizona Cardinals draft room as the select Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr.

This is a must see #GoBucks

Rarely do fans get access to draft war rooms, but the Arizona Cardinals released a video featuring [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] offensive tackle [autotag]Paris Johnson Jr.[/autotag]

The video is one of a series that Arizona does, titled Cardinals Flight Plan. They showed behind the scenes footage of their new general manager Monti Ossenfort navigating a trade down, then back up to select Johnson Jr.

It continues on as they follow the sixth overall pick of the NFL draft, as he travels out to Arizona to meet his new teammates and coaching staff. You can watch the full video here, as the majority of the first 15 minutes focus’s on Johnson Jr.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on Twitter.

Jersey numbers for all Ohio State NFL rookies

A look at all the jersey numbers new Ohio State rookies will be wearing in the various minicamps. #GoBucks

NFL rookie camps have begun in earnest for many teams in the league, and that means the six drafted former Ohio State players, as well as some undrafted free agents, have begun the next step of their football journey.

To do that, each of those players had to be assigned a jersey number by their new team. Some may not change from what they wore in the colors of Scarlet and Gray. Others will change because of the NFL’s numbering system or because a current player on the team already has the number spoken for.

Regardless, we know all of those jersey numbers for former Buckeyes newly minted as NFL players, so here’s a rundown of what C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will wearing during rookie minicamps and perhaps beyond.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

NEXT … The 2023 NFL draft picks

Ohio State football NFL rookie contract tracker

Here is a central way to keep track of when the six Ohio State players sign their rookie deals and an estimate of what they are worth. #GoBucks

Now that former Ohio State football players have been selected in the 2023 NFL draft, they are working with their new teams to sign those coveted rookie contracts. It’s why kids flock to Columbus to play and is the pot at the end of the Scarlet and Gray football rainbow for many.

Maybe you, too, are interested in when quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba sign their rookie deals. If so, then you are in luck because we’re keeping track of the six Ohio State football players that were selected in the NFL draft and when they ink those agreements.

We’ll update it as news becomes available but we also use Spotrac because of the initial, non-public nature of the deals when they are reported to give you an idea of the ballpark value of each.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Here’s where things stand today.

Paris Johnson Jr. signs rookie contract with Cardinals

In case you missed it. It’s time now for Paris Johnson to now show what he can do on the field. #GoBucks

We’re on rookie contract watch for all of the former Ohio State players selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Already a pair of Buckeyes have inked their deals and can focus on rookie minicamps.

Former receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba got his deal done and out of the way with the Seattle Seahawks. On the same day, former offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. signed with the Cardinals, according to an initial report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.

As always, these contract details for rookies aren’t immediately known, but according to Spotrac and the sliding scale of what’s an expected estimate, the terms are expected to be four years and just over $28 million overall, with approximately $17.4 million guaranteed as a signing bonus.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any other former Ohio State players as they get their rookie contracts inked and bring the news to you when available.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=video id=01gzbxw8bn5vhvb98gpf playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gzbxw8bn5vhvb98gpf/01gzbxw8bn5vhvb98gpf-960ba811c97e8ebaaa0d6b320d8ab805.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Every Big Ten player drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft

Every Big Ten player drafted in the first round #B1G

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books and the Big Ten conference had a great weekend sending their fair share of young athletes to the next level. Obviously, our focus and love go to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but when you watch years of Big Ten football, you tend to get acquainted with the rivals as well and there is no shame in keeping track.

The Southeastern Conference had the most prospects drafted with 62 and that makes sense considering their dominance of the college football landscape, but the Big Ten is not far behind and had 55 players selected. The Michigan Wolverines were at the top of the mountain as far as prospects drafted with 9 drafted, but Ohio State was close behind tied for second with the Penn State Nittany Lions at six.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

This list is going to highlight only the players drafted in the first round and finished their career at a Big Ten school — sorry, transfer portal fans.

Photos of Stroud, Johnson Jr. and Smith-Njigba at the 2023 NFL draft

It was a fun night for this trio! #GoBucks

It was another night to remember for Ohio State players in the 2023 NFL draft. Three more Buckeyes were selected in the first round of the draft, extending OSU’s lead as the program with the most first-round selections and making it the first to 90.

C.J. Stroud went off the board as the No. 2 pick to the Houston Texans, followed by Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6 to Arizona and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The dream come true for all three players started before the draft began with a walk on the red carpet. All three attended the festivities. We had some photographers on hand to capture that and each of the trio’s individual walk across the stage when their names were called.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Here are some of the best photos of the three Ohio State players on hand for the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.