Carolina Panthers select DJ Johnson in 3rd round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Carolina Panthers have drafted former Oregon Ducks EDGE DJ Johnson in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson, who played both offense and defense at Oregon, turned heads at the NFL Combine, posting a blazing 4.49-second 40-yard-dash.
Originially committed to Miami out of high school, Johnson Saw action in eight games as a true freshman, including the 2017 ACC Championship game against then-No. 1 Clemson (Dec. 2), and the subsequent Capital One Orange Bowl against No. 6 Wisconsin.
It’s hard to believe now, but Johnson transferred to Oregon before the instant transfer rules were put into place and was forced to sit out and redshirt the 2018 season. He quickly earned a major role on the team the following season, appearing in 13 games for the Ducks an finsihed the season as one of two players in the country that season with at least seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble in a single game.
Oregon transitioned Johnson into a hybrid two-way player in 2020, keeping him on the defensive end, while also utilizing his speed on offense as a tight end and enjoyed success as one of the most versatile players in the country until transitioning back to defense after Dan Lanning took over the program.
Overall, he finished his six-year collegiate career with 67 tackles, 19.5 TFLs and 9.0 sacks across the two programs.
Johnson is a former four-star recruit out of Luther Burbank, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 75 overall recruit in the 2017 class and was the No. 8 EDGE.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about DJ Johnson
NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein provided the following analysis of Johnson, offering Washington Commanders EDGE James Smith-Williams as a historical comparison to the former Duck star.
“Power merchant with jarring initial hand strikes that can create early advantages,” Zierlein wrote about the former Duck. “Johnson is big, explosive and rugged but lacking the experience and technique to consistently capitalize on his physicality. He has broad, tight hips that make it challenging to keep the pad level where it needs to be as a rusher, tackler and while taking on run blocks. He has very few moves or counters, but his bull rush can put opponents on skates.
“There is significant technique work that needs to take place, but his NFL Scouting Combine testing should only help his draft stock.”