The 2022 NFL Draft is highlighted by a couple of supremely talented edge rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. The two are expected to go within the first few picks and are certainly deserving of their high projections. However, the second-tier of pass rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft starts with Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson II.
FSU DE Jermaine Johnson II is one of the more NFL-ready players in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jermaine Johnson II went the JUCO route out of Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota and spent two seasons at Independence C.C. (appeared on season 3 of Last Chance U) where he would become one of the top-ranked JUCO prospects in the country. Johnson II then transferred to play for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2019 and he spent two seasons in Athens before finishing his career at Florida State, where he would enjoy a breakout season that would put him in first-round consideration as we near the 2022 NFL Draft.
While he started just 16 games over the course of his collegiate career, Johnson II was still able to rack up 18 sacks and 24.5 tackles for a loss with the bulk of those coming at FSU. In his 12 games with the Seminoles, Johnson II tallied at least a half a sack in eight contests, including a signature performance against the Miami Hurricanes in which he got to the quarterback three times in the victory.
Fast forward to today and it feels like Jermaine Johnson II’s 2022 NFL Draft hype is starting to hit its stride. With recent reports of him dominating Senior Bowl practices this week, the draft community has been buzzing about the pass rusher of late.
With that in mind, let’s dive into a scouting report of Jermaine Johnson II’s game, as I highlight why I feel he should be a first-round lock as we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jermaine Johnson II has all the tools to succeed at the next level
You can turn on just about any FSU game from last season and the first player that will jump out to you on their defense is Jermaine Johnson II. It felt like he was constantly in the backfield making plays, which is evident by his ACC-leading 46 pressures in 2021.
Johnson II measured in at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds at the Senior Bowl and he looks every bit of it. He plays with a ton of physicality and he pairs that with a quick burst and active hands making him a nightmare matchup for anybody lined up across from him.
His pass-rushing bag is as deep as anybody in the class, as he has proven to have a focused plan of attack depending on what set he sees off the snap. He can win with his hands inside, he has a nice cross chop attack that consistently pins his assignments arm and his spin move is downright silly for a man of his size. He could also simply run right through you if he so chooses.
While his pass-rushing ability is certainly the main draw for Johnson II, it’s his processing and willingness to mix it up in the run game that takes his projections to the next level. He finds the football in a hurry and shows tremendous discipline at the POA.
His game is so balanced. It’s legitimately difficult to point out where he needs improvement as he makes the transition to the NFL.
Areas of improvement
If I had to be nitpicky and zero in on something that Johnson II could stand to work on moving forward I would say it’s his flexibility around the edge. It’s not that he’s stiff. In fact, considering his imposing size he’s pretty loose in the hips; it’s just that he doesn’t have overly impressive bend and because of that he seldom relies on that alone to get him home. The only other complaint would be that we only got to see what he could do for one season.
Jermaine Johnson: Final Thoughts/Outlook
Jermaine Johnson II has all of the skill, athleticism, and intelligence that make up a first-round edge prospect ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. He can be used in multiple fronts and has a ton of translatable attributes to his game that leads me to believe he is an immediate plug-and-play starter off the edge.
As things stand now, Johnson is in the late-first round discussion amongst draft circles but something tells me that by the time the draft process is over, Jermaine Johnson II could be hearing his name even earlier when the 2022 NFL Draft finally kicks off on April 28th.
Draft Projection: Top 15 player