The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Even with Preston Smith locked up long-term, the Green Bay Packers could still take an edge rusher early in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. Rashan Gary and Smith give the Packers a formidable pass-rushing duo, but the depth behind those two is severely lacking.
If the Packers fail to add an edge rusher in the first three rounds the third day of the draft will still offer Brian Gutekunst an opportunity to strengthen the depth behind Gary and Smith.
Even if Gutekunst selects an edge rusher early, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him not dip his toes back into the talented edge pool on the third day of the draft. A team can never have enough talented edge rushers and the 2022 NFL Draft will offer Gutekunst an opportunity to restock the talent behind Smith and Gary.
A player that Gutekunst could target on day three of the draft is Tyree Johnson. The Texas A&M edge rusher checks in at No. 42 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
As a freshman in 2018, Tyree Johnson played in all 13 games as a reserve and recorded 1.5 sacks. The following season, Johnson started 10 games and recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
In 2020, Johnson started in five games and recorded six tackles for loss and four sacks.
This past season Johnson recorded nine tackles for loss and tied for third in the SEC in sacks with 8.5. In four games in October, Johnson recorded seven sacks.
“When I got to Texas A&M Tyree Johnson was a little undersized, but by his hard work and dedication, he has become one of the best edge rushers in the SEC,” Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “He is strong enough to hold the edge in the running game but his strength is his ability to bend around the edge, and speed rush. He plays with great passion.”
Johnson is a bendy edge rusher that’s slippery off the edge. The Texas A&M edge rusher has an explosive first step and has great closing burst to the quarterback. He stays low in his rush and once he wins the edge it looks like he was shot out of a cannon. He does a good job of converting speed to power and has a strong bull rush.
“He wins with his speed,” Mark Passwaters, the Texas A&M reporter for Rivals.com, said. “His game is based on his ability to turn the corner, but he’s got some flexibility that allows him to ‘wiggle’ through blocks as well. He’s a guy who can stand up or come out of his stance and beat tackles to the edge.”
As a run defender, Johnson plays with good pad level and does a good job of setting the edge. He has the quickness to chase down ball carriers. Johnson does a good job of using his length to stack and shed.
“For a guy who would be relatively undersized for an NFL defensive end, he does well,” Passwaters said. “He has pretty long arms, so he can disengage from linemen and make plays.”
Fit with the Packers
The name of the game is to get after the quarterback and with Gary and Smith, the Packers have a solid pass-rushing duo. By adding Johnson to the mix they’d be adding a twitchy edge rusher that finished his career with 18 sacks and 70 pressures.
The Texas A&M edge rusher is at his best when he can pin his ears back and go after the quarterback. If he were to land in Green Bay he could see immediate playing time as a designated pass rusher.
“Johnson may be a situational player, at least at first, but he’s a guy who can come in on second and third-and-long situations and go after the quarterback by himself,” Passwaters said. “I think 2021 was just a starting point for him and he’s got massive upside.”
A team can never have enough pass rushers and Johnson would provide quality depth behind Gary and Smith.
What Green Bay lacked last season was playmakers behind Gary and Smith. Johnson showed this past season that he’s more than capable of causing havoc off the edge.
