Tag: Paris Johnson

PODCAST: Front office changes, awards odds and Paris Johnson

Jess Root and Seth Cox discuss the latest about the Cardinals in the newest podcast episode.

We have a new podcast episode! Seth Cox and I discuss the departures from the front office of VP of Player Personnel Quentin Harris and Director of Player Personnel Dru Grigson, and we go over why they are neither bad nor unexpected.

We also discuss betting odds for Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, going over the best bets and what Cardinals are listed.

Finally, we discuss what we have heard about tackle Paris Johnson and where he is expected to play in 2024.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Times and topics:

(1:00) The recent departures of Quentin Harris and Dru Grigson

(16:05) Betting odds for Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year

(45:28) Paris Johnson staying at RT?

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Cardinals’ Paris Johnson snubbed by PFWA for 2023 All-Rookie team

Cleveland’s Dawand Jones and Chicago’s Darnell Wright were the two tackles to make the PFWA All-Rookie team for 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals had solid contributions from many of their 2023 rookies, but none was great than their first-round pick, tackle Paris Johnson. He played every offensive snap of the season at right tackle for the Cardinals and was good against some of the very best pass rushers in the league.

However, the Pro Football Writers of America announced their rookies of the year an all-rookie team, and Johnson did not make it.

Who did make the 2023 All-Rookie team at tackle?

It was Dawand Jones of the Cleveland Browns and Darnell Wright of the Chicago Bears.

Jones played in only 11 games as a rookie, starting nine games. He suffered a season-ending knee surgery.

Wright makes sense because he started all 17 games for the Bears and played every snap like Johnson.

Johnson got my vote. It wasn’t enough, apparently.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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2023 Cardinals rookie of the year: OL Paris Johnson

Johnson was the Cardinals’ top rookie all season, playing every single offensive snap in 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals’ season ended with the regular season as they did not make the playoffs. While the NFL playoffs are happening, yearly player awards and honors are beginning to be given.

That means we should give out awards to the top Cardinals players in 2023.

Running back James Conner is the team’s MVP and linebacker Kyzir White was the team’s defensive player of the year.

The rookie of the year choice is pretty easy — it is tackle Paris Johnson.

Johnson was the Cardinals’ first-round pick and he was immediately thrust into the starting lineup.

He started every game at right tackle and played every single offensive snap.

He lined up against some of the best pass rushers in the league — Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Montez Sweat and Haason Reddick — and held his own.

He wasn’t perfect but he was really good. If he got his hands on a guy, it was over.

Fellow offensive lineman Will Hernandez gushed about him. Other teammates refer to him as “All-Pro P.” They see a star.

Johnson might end up playing left tackle next season with D.J. Humphries having torn his ACL.

Johnson came in with high expectations and met them all.

Other rookies had moments, but Johnson was solid all season.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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OL Paris Johnson is ‘real deal,’ says OL teammate

Teammates and coaches speak very highly of Paris Johnson.

The Arizona Cardinals’ best rookie in 2023 was also their top rookie, tackle Paris Johnson, drafted sixth overall.

He started at right tackle all season and played every single snap on offense.

While he wasn’t perfect, he was pretty good and his teammates see an absolute stud moving forward.

Receiver Marquise Brown, who was on injured reserve, referred to Johnson as All-Pro P when he was tweeting during the Cardinals’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. It’s clear Brown believes Johnson is on an arc in his career to be one of the best in the league.

After the season-ending loss to the Seattle Seahawks, right guard Will Hernandez gushed about Johnson.

“Paris is the real deal, he’s legit, he’s a good friend of mine and a great teammate,” Hernandez said. “His progressions were crazy, you wouldn’t think that from a top-10 pick, but even top-10 picks can improve a lot, and he did. He’s smart and he’s going to keep doing it too.  You guys haven’t seen all of Paris yet and all he can do. ”

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said that Johnson “can do it all” when it comes to playing on the offensive line.

He could play left tackle next season with D.J. Humphries sidelined with a torn ACL.

Johnson just wants to be part of the starters.

He blocked some of the absolute best pass rushers this season and had success — Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Montez Sweat and Haason Reddick.

The Cardinals have not had a great offensive lineman since perhaps Lomas Brown in the late 90s at the end of his career. They might have one now.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Cardinals RT Paris Johnson given ‘C’ for midseason rookie performance

Johnson has played every snap this season but has been penalized a lot.

The Arizona Cardinals have leaned on offensive lineman Paris Johnson, their first-round draft pick this year, to play an important role. He is their starting right tackle. He has played every snap of the season through nine games.

How has he done?

Draft Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon graded the midseason performance of all the first-round rookies. Johnson gets a very average “C” grade.

Johnson has started every game at right tackle for the Cardinals. He has struggled with penalties (8 in as many games, 4 declined) and run blocking, while Johnson’s pass protection has ebbed and flowed.

Johnson has looked good at times and has struggled. Penalties have been an issue, but you can see why the Cardinals were excited about him. He is the guy Kyler Murray wanted.

More importantly, he has played every snap of the season through nine games, the only offensive lineman on the team to do so thus far.

It is important to note that he is playing right tackle for the first time. He played right guard and left tackle in college at Ohio State.

He certainly has not been a bad selection and will certainly improve over the back half of the season and into future seasons.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Both former Ohio State starting tackles dominate their first game in the NFL

Ohio State rookie OTs Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones each had strong NFL debuts in Week 1

It is not exactly a secret that Ohio State has been a factory for NFL players as of late, with multiple skill players and lineman dominating the league. Two of those Ohio State offensive lineman were drafted this year, after starting opposite each other last season, have now dominated their week one debut on separate teams.

Arizona Cardinals rookie left tackle Paris Johnson and Cleveland Browns newly-minted starting right tackle Dawand Jones both absolutely crushed their first game at the professional level. Both players played against stud defensive lines in the Bengals and the Commanders, but neither rookie was the weak link on lines that were more solid than expected with rookies at the helm of outside protection.

Both Johnson and Jones combined for 58 pass-blocking snaps, neither player gave up a single sack, pressure, hurry, or quarterback hit in their entire game. Both teams also boasted solid running games that both averaged over 4.5 yards a carry. Neither rookie was able to be plucked out of the line and targeted for added pressure or forced to move off the running game.

It is a pleasant surprise especially to see Jones, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, go out there and play to a level people were not expecting. With former starting right tackle Jack Conklin expected to be out for the year, Jones is going to be able to prove he should have been a first-round pick right alongside his teammate in the desert.

Gimme Him: One player the Commanders would steal from Cardinals

If the Commanders could steal one player from the Cardinals roster, who would you choose?

The Washington Commanders kick off the 2023 NFL season Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals from a sold-out FedEx Field.

We are trying something new this season at Commanders Wire. Ahead of each week’s game, we assess the roster of the upcoming opponent and pick one player the Commanders could “steal” from their opponents to help balance out their current roster.

The Cardinals are undergoing a major rebuild. Some believe they’ll be the worst team in the NFL in 2023. But this is the NFL, and everyone has good players throughout the roster. Safety Budda Baker first comes to mind for Arizona, but the Commanders have a terrific combination of youth and depth at safety, with Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves.

So, the one player that Washington would steal in this hypothetical exercise would be rookie left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

Yes, we are aware that Johnson has yet to take an official NFL snap. However, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft certainly looked the part in his limited preseason action.

At 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, Johnson has the ideal combination of size, length, athleticism and quick feet teams desire in a left tackle. Washington’s left tackle, Charles Leno Jr., will be 32 in October, and Johnson could step in at left tackle for the Commanders immediately or wait a year.

Washington liked the former Ohio State product in the draft but knew it would have no chance to select him.

In Sunday’s game, Johnson draws Montez Sweat and Chase Young in his NFL debut. Young’s status is still up in the air, but he sure sounded like he plans on playing in Week 1.

 

 

Cardinals’ Week 1 depth chart shows 3 rookie starters

In what is no surprise, Paris Johnson, Michael Wilson and Kei’Trel Clark, all drafted this year, are listed as starters for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals released their first depth chart of the season and it largely had no surprises. One thing worth noting is that there are three rookies listed as starters, although none is surprising based on the offseason.

Tackle Paris Johnson is the Cardinals’ starting right tackle. He worked with the first-team offense all offseason. This was inevitable. He was drafted sixth overall for a reason.

Receiver Michael Wilson, drafted in the third round, was impressive all offseason. He is listed as one of the Cardinals’ three starting receivers with Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore.

Lastly, cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, selected in the sixth round, is one of the Cardinals’ two starting cornerbacks.

Based on his work in training camp and the preseason, this is also no surprise.

All three rookies were among the players who sat out the preseason finale, which signaled a likely spot in the starting lineup.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals have 11 rookies on active roster to begin season

Eleven of the Cardinals’ 53 players on the active roster are rookies to start the season.

The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for their season opener on the road against the Washington Commanders. They have a vastly different roster. It is quite young.

In fact, of the 53 players on the roster, 11 are rookies. They have seven of their nine draft picks on the 53-man roster (with one on season-ending injured reserve and one on NFI for not). One of their own undrafted rookies made the team. They added three rookies, including two undrafted rookies, to the roster after final cuts via waivers.

Check out the rookies below.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

3 Cardinals rookies appear to have starting jobs locked up

Paris Johnson, Michael WIlson, Kei’Trel Clark all sat out the preseason finale against the Vikings.

The Arizona Cardinals did not play their starters in their preseason finale on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Three rookies were among those not dressing for the game.

What does that mean? It would appear that these three Cardinals draft picks have secured a spot in the starting lineup or at least a solid spot in the playing rotation.

AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban noted that tackle Paris Johnson, the Cardinals’ first-round pick, receiver Michael Wilson, selected in the third round, and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, a fifth-round selection, were all in street clothes before the game.

Johnson will be the Cardinals’ starting right tackle. He has worked there all offseason.

Wilson appears to have locked up a starting spot at receiver. He started with Marquise Brown in the Cardinals’ preseason game last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He will at least be among the Cardinals’ top four receivers in the offensive rotation.

Clark started at cornerback last week against the Chiefs opposite Marco Wilson. He likely has locked up at least a spot in the top three cornerback rotation.

The youth movement for the Cardinals has officially begun. After years of rookies being brought along slowly, often out of necessity, they are going all in, trying to compete with rookies in the lineup.

At least one other rookie, linebacker BJ Ojulari, their second-round pick, also figures to play a role in the defensive rotation. He is expected to play in the preseason finale.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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