Former FSU defensive end Jermaine Johnson will likely hear his name called in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft Thursday night.
It has been a long road for the non-qualifier and former No. 1 JUCO player in the nation.
A modest two years at Georgia followed before Johnson bet on himself and transferred to FSU football in the spring of 2021. FSU was a program in severe need of pass rushers after losing Joshua Kaindoh and Janarius Robinson to the 2021 NFL Draft.
Johnson’s production, with limited snaps, was similar to what Kaindoh and Robinson brought to FSU. However, I don’t think anyone thought Jermaine Johnson would put up the production he did in one year.
He went from a guy FSU fans were happy they got in the transfer portal to a bonafide legend during a 5-7 season.
It all began with his performance against Notre Dame in the season opener, a program that consistently produces NFL offensive linemen.
He finished the year with 70 total tackles, 12 sacks, 17.5 tackles for a loss, 12 QB hurries, two forced fumbles, a fumble returned for a touchdown, and two passes defended. He won ACC Defensive Player of the Year on a 5-7 team.
His tape speaks for itself, but his performance at the NFL Combine further solidified himself as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. I’m going to go even further and provide evidence that he’s the best defensive end in the draft.
Production
The other defensive ends I see mentioned the most among the best are Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Travon Walker. I’m sure some projections base things on potential, but we see first-round draft picks busts every year because of that. When it comes to production, Johnson stacks up better than the rest of these guys.
Aidan Hutchinson (15 games)
-62 tackles
-14 sacks
-16.5 tackles for loss
-12 QB hurries
Kayvon Thibodeaux (11 games)
-49 tackles
-7 sacks
-12 tackles for loss
-8 QB hurries
Travon Walker (15 games)
-37 tackles
-6 sacks
-7.5 tackles for loss
-6 QB hurries
Jermaine Johnson (12 games)
-70 tackles
-12 sacks
-17.5 tackles for loss
-12 QB hurries
Look at the difference in production. Johnson played in three fewer games than Hutchinson and Walker. Johnson blows Walker’s numbers out of the water and beats or ties Hutchinson in three of the four categories.
If you watch the tape, Johnson seems to have the best sense of instincts regarding when to play the run and when to rush the passer. He’s always around the football and has the motor to go sideline to sideline. He didn’t come off the field for FSU much and his quality of play continued to be of high caliber.
NFL Combine Results
Aidan Hutchinson
-6’7″
-260 pounds
-32 1/8″ arms
-4.74 forty-yard dash (1.62 ten-yard split)
-36″ vertical
-117″ broad jump
-6.73 three-cone drill
-4.15 twenty-yard shuttle
Kayvon Thibodeaux
-6’4″
-254 pounds
-33 1/8″ arms
-4.58 forty-yard dash (1.62 ten-yard split)
Travon Walker
-6’5″
-272 pounds
-35 1/2″ arms
-4.51 forty-yard dash (1.64 ten-yard split)
-35.5″ vertical
-123″ broad jump
-6.89 three-cone drill
-4.32 twenty-yard shuttle
Jermaine Johnson
-6’5″
-254 pounds
–34″ arms
-4.58 forty-yard dash (1.55 ten-yard split)
-32″ vertical
-125 broad jump
-27 reps at 225 (FSU Pro Day)
The two things that stick out to me are Johnson’s 10-yard split and the length of his arms. The 40 time is impressive, but the 10-yard split displays explosiveness the other guys don’t have. Think about it defensive ends rarely run farther than 10-yards to get after the quarterback with a pass rush.
The length of his arms suggests it will make it more difficult for offensive tackles to block, not to mention Johnson is excellent at hand fighting and disengaging would-be blockers. He has the second-longest set of arms among these guys, and Hutchinson nearly has T-Rex arms for a guy so tall.
Total Package
Jermaine Johnson has the total package compared to these other guys and will likely make an impact early and sustain it for longer, provided he stays healthy(and he doesn’t have a history of injuries).
He compares favorably to another FSU first-rounder, Brian Burns. Burns had slightly shorter arms and a slightly quicker 10-yard split (1.54).
Burns was in the conversation for NFL Rookie of the Year and should have made the Pro Bowl in 2020 but got robbed of the honor before getting the nod in 2021.
Johnson’s get off the line of scrimmage, arm length, motor, and instincts are things he naturally has in his arsenal. I know some folks may say he only had one big year in college because he played as a reserve at UGA before bursting on the scene at FSU.
I’d point to Joe Burrow’s college career as someone that didn’t exactly light it up before having an outstanding senior season to become the No. 1 overall pick in 2020.
I’m not suggesting Johnson be the No. 1 overall selection, but he should be the first defensive end selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The tape doesn’t lie. His combine numbers back up the tape, and he’ll be ready to contribute immediately.