With their final pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select nose tackle PJ Johnson out of the University of Arizona.
Johnson is a raw prospect with only one year of experience playing in a Division 1 program. In just nine games, he managed to rack up 31 tackles, 8.5 of which went for a loss, and 3.0 sacks.
The biggest concern for Johnson is his athleticism. While he has the size and physicality, he lacks both speed and explosion.
The good news is that athletic testing doesn’t seem to affect production at the nose tackle position, with Damon Harrison being the best example of that. With very little college football experience under his belt, having a veteran mentor like Harrison is vital for Johnson’s success.
He has used his size to his advantage against opposing lineman and his production in his one year at Arizona proves that. With some refinement to his game, he could be the eventual successor to Harrison in the middle of this defensive line.
For now, he will be buried on the depth chart behind Detroit’s powerful trio of Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand, and A’Shawn Robinson. Johnson will likely have to compete with John Atkins for a roster spot this summer.
While Johnson is a fit here in Detroit, I feel as though the team passed on bigger areas of need to take him.
Grade: C
