Chicago Bears Draft: An in-depth assessment of Paris Johnson Jr.

The Chicago Bears desperately need to upgrade their talent along the offensive line.

Quarterback Justin Fields was sacked over 50 times last season. Some of that was because he held onto the ball too long. A big part of the high sack numbers was the line got pushed around.

Pass blocking was poor last season and that is putting it politely.

Rookie Braxton Jones never missed a snap at left tackle in 2022, but he was overpowered most of the time. General manager Ryan Poles is high on Jones who he drafted last year in the fifth round out of Southern Utah.

Jones does need to get stronger in the offseason, but he has the potential to be a good player in the NFL. One Chicago Bears legend thinks Braxton Jones can be great someday.

The problem is the Bears do not have a reliable option at right tackle right now. Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood would be battling it out for the starting job if training camp opened today. Borom was replaced as the starter midway through last season. Leatherwood could not get a jersey after an abysmal tryout there during the season.

Ryan Poles needs to address the offensive line in the NFL Draft since the free agent market is weak right now. The line’s interior is serviceable with Teven Jenkins, Cody Whitehair, and the recently signed Nate Davis.

Poles needs to draft a starting tackle who can play opposite Jones (or allow Jones to move to right tackle).

One draft prospect Ryan Poles could consider is Ohio State Paris Johnson Jr.

Pro Football Focus has Johnson Jr. listed as their second-best offensive tackle prospect. He started 13 games last season at left tackle for the Buckeyes. During his sophomore season, he started 13 games at a right guard. He also saw action in five games as a true freshman at guard.

He allowed 14 pressures on 449 pass-blocking snaps last season and yielded just three career sacks.

PFF thinks his best position is at left tackle. That would mean moving Braxton Jones to right tackle.

The issue for Paris Johnson Jr. is he has only played 13 games at left tackle, so he is somewhat raw at that position.

In his first game at left tackle, he faced Notre Dame’s Isaiah Forskey and allowed just one pressure. He did play well enough last season to earn second-team AP All-American honors and first-team all-Big Ten.

He has the ideal size for a left tackle at 6’6″, 313 pounds, and 36 1/8″ inch arms. At the combine, he had a 9’2″ broad jump that shows good explosiveness.

Johnson Jr. has blocked for Justin Fields during the 2020 season. So, there is a familiarity there. He does check the value box that Ryan Poles craves as he can play inside and outside.

Is Johnson Jr. a better fit for the Bears than Peter Skoronski?

Many draft experts consider Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski to be the top offensive lineman available in the draft. Skoronski has short arms for a tackle so he might have to be moved inside to thrive in the NFL.

The Chicago Bears can at least get by this season with the players they have on the interior. They need to come away with a starter at tackle in this draft.

Paris Johnson Jr. projects to be a good starter at tackle whereas Skoronski projects to be an average tackle in the NFL (but a great guard).

One area Johnson Jr. must improve in is his functional strength. Strength is not something that is considered a knock against Skoronski. The Bears already have to get Braxton Jones stronger. They might not want to add another lineman at a premium position who needs an offseason or two to bulk up.

Also, Skoronski had the better broad jump at the combine and is more fundamentally sound than Johnson Jr.

Johnson Jr. is the better athlete and good athleticism is needed in the Chicago Bears’ zone-blocking scheme.

Johnson Jr. has already blocked for Justin Fields in a game. Granted it was college, he was playing guard, and it was three years ago. Still, Paris understands some of Fields’ intricacies as a passer whereas Skoronski has none.

Both have faced some of the best edge rushers in the Big Ten, but Johnson Jr. has faced Forskey from Notre Dame and taken on Georgia’s offensive line last season. He has also faced defensive tackles from Alabama and Clemson during his freshman year. Johnson Jr. has just played in more big games than Skoronski.

When you put them up against each other, they both check the versatility that Poles desires The deciding factor could be that Johnson has the value to be good at tackle and guard whereas Skoronski might only be good at one offensive line position.