Round 3 - The Carolina Panthers Select DJ Johnson - EDGE - Oregon

[GOAT]

I think most Oregon fans are surprised he went that high because of the punch as well.

this is Gaulden all over again. 

[WUnderhill]

I don’t know much about the player, but if you look at the trade itself it makes a lot of sense. First, LBs/Edge guys were coming off the board fast. Just a couple picks earlier, Zach Harrison, Marte Mapu, and Byron Young all came off the board in a row. Then a pick after we took Johnson, Diaby came off the board, and just a couple picks later Simpson and Henley came off.

It’s fallacious to assume that nobody else was targeting Johnson just because he wasn’t high on the media radar. Did anybody in the media have Marte Mapu going before Trenton Simpson? It’s interesting some people defending the Mingo pick and hating on the Johnson pick because the arguments against both are similar. When Mingo was picked, I was a bit disappointed because it seemed like a reach based on the media boards, so I get it, but ultimately I understand why they made that pick and this one. Both guys have skill sets and athletic profiles that are hard to find in the other players left on the board. If we’re looking for a big dude who can set the edge, contain the run, rush the passer as a 3-4 OLB, and also put his hands in the dirt when needed, there just wasn’t much to choose from in the entirety of the draft. Even if you look at Ojulari at the top of the second, you’re looking at a guy who has question marks around taking on blockers and stopping the run, though the pass rush skills are better. Even the age makes a little bit of sense, for instance I wanted Sanders for the same role, but he would have spent 2 years bulking up to be as big as Johnson is now, and Johnson has already shown he can carry the weight and retain his athleticism. 

In their presser, Fitt/Reich talked about the four different types of linebackers they need, and Johnson fills a gap there. It’s dangerous to assume that just because the media isn’t as high on a guy (which, btw, there were some who had him ranked close to where we took him), that he will be there at 93 or 114. If they felt the gap was significant between him and the next guy who fit that profile for them, then the smart move is to go get him. As the draft goes on, the differences in big boards increases, I’m just giving the new coaching staff the benefit of the doubt for now. I can’t call them an all star staff up until the draft and immediately turn on them.

[CRA]

1 minute ago, WUnderhill said:

I don’t know much about the player, but if you look at the trade itself it makes a lot of sense. First, LBs/Edge guys were coming off the board fast.

Then you just go rent a guy in free agency that can actually do the job today vs wasting 2 draft picks to overdraft a guy.    

[Swaggasaurus]

18 minutes ago, Growl said:

So..the Oregon Reddit has a number of commenters who are happy for him but really stunned he went as high as he did.

It is stunning. It doesn’t mean the sky is falling. He’s not like Gaulden because he’s an elite athlete. He’s not like Kugbila because he didn’t play at Podunk st. But his stats are like BJ Olujari who this board was in love with because a guy with bad hair and some nerds named Walter or Daniel told them do be.

[Pantherzilla91]

32 minutes ago, Growl said:

Great to hear, the rest of us do keep up. Don’t worry we’ll keep you filled in on what’s going on elsewhere.

What do you do exactly that makes you “so informed”?

[FuFuLamePoo]

1 minute ago, Swaggasaurus said:

It is stunning. It doesn’t mean the sky is falling. He’s not like Gaulden because he’s an elite athlete. He’s not like Kugbila because he didn’t play at Podunk st. But his stats are like BJ Olujari who this board was in love with because a guy with bad hair and some nerds named Walter or Daniel told them do be.

I love the exploding popularity of the draft but one of the biggest drawbacks of its new popularity is that random users on CarolinaHuddle think every team has the same draft board as the one they saw on twitter by @IcyDraftSzn. There are some analysts out there who do great work on this event but we have absolutely zero clue how actual teams big boards look, especially after those first 15-20 picks.

[WUnderhill]

3 minutes ago, CRA said:

Then you just go rent a guy in free agency that can actually do the job today vs wasting 2 draft picks to overdraft a guy.    

Totally. Why draft anybody. Let’s just rent everybody in free agency. Could have traded our second for Hopkins instead of drafting Mingo too (not the worst idea tbh).

[FuFuLamePoo]

In no ways am I saying this guy is going to be good but at least watch some film, I’ve watched him all morning and he has powerful hands, more bend than I expected, and an impressive motor. I’m confident Evero already has an idea for the role he’s going to place him in. Let’s just see what he can do lmao

[CRA]

1 minute ago, Swaggasaurus said:

It is stunning. It doesn’t mean the sky is falling. He’s not like Gaulden because he’s an elite athlete. He’s not like Kugbila because he didn’t play at Podunk st. But his stats are like BJ Olujari who this board was in love with because a guy with bad hair and some nerds named Walter or Daniel told them do be.

BJ did it in the SEC for years though.  Wouldn’t call a guy who did it in the PAC12 once the same production. 

and the mature 24 year old punched a fan.  In the back of the head.  Just last season.  That’s not exactly the dog mentality we have been lacking IMO.  That’s dumb on display and lack of basic control. 
 

[Stuart Smith]

11 hours ago, Rocky Davis said:

I watched quite a few Oregon games over the past couple of years because a coworkers son plays for the Ducks (not a starter, but maybe this season). 

I saw Johnson play TE in 2020 and 2021.  He didn't play many games, but when he did play he was really utilized as another blocker and he road graded defensive players.  He also had a couple of games where he was used in the red zone and showed his speed, good hands, and decent route running.  I think he had 4 or 5 TDs.

Last year he played LB and his speed and strength showed up even though he didn't put up huge sack numbers.  It's sort of like Burns and Reddick....I think he'll develop into an outside rusher who can really pressure the QB fast.  I hope he doesn't over pursue like Burns does at times.  I think the Panthers are trying to recreate what they had with Burns and Reddick.

Also, I think Johnson played for two different coaches and staff and showed versatility and a willingness to do what was best for the team.  I am sure Evero had a hand in this pick, this isn't just a random pick.  The Panthers staff see something they like about him and I'll trust Evero, Fitt, and Morgan on this.

The guy is kind of freakish - he got to Bennett when they played Georgia and had him on the run and stepping up in the pocket a lot.  Also saw him drop back in coverage and cover TEs.

Give him a chance, that's all you can do. 

Remember Evero came from San Francisco. Being from the west coast I think he would be more familiar with athletes from the PAC 10. I have to wonder if he had not already scouted this player for San Fran before he knew he was leaving. 

[Swaggasaurus]

Just now, CRA said:

BJ did it in the SEC for years though.  Wouldn’t call a guy who did it in the PAC12 once the same production. 

and the mature 24 year old punched a fan.  In the back of the head.  Just last season.  That’s not exactly the dog mentality we have been lacking IMO.  That’s dumb on display and lack of basic control. 
 

Counter: BJ’s production in year 3 at OLB was matched by a guy who played TE the year before. God damn BJ Olujari is one of the strangest board obsessions  I can remember. You have to be a dumb fug to punch a fan tho…real talk there

[Pantherzilla91]

Remember his coach at Oregon for all but last year was that doofus Mario Cristobal who couldn’t even properly utilize Justin Herbert 

[Pup McBarky]

4 minutes ago, CRA said:

and the mature 24 year old punched a fan.  In the back of the head.  Just last season.  That’s not exactly the dog mentality we have been lacking IMO.  That’s dumb on display and lack of basic control. 

So much for "high character guys." I hope he works out both on and off field, but this pick is a poser to say the least. I'll be happy to be wrong on him.

[CRA]

4 minutes ago, Swaggasaurus said:

. You have to be a dumb fug to punch a fan tho…real talk there

Not just punch him.  Sucker punch to the back of the head.  And he frankly faced no consequences for it.  His next move was to declare for the draft.  And that just happened with the 24 year old.  It’s not like it was something that happened at 18 and you saw growth and maturity after.