Panthers 2022 draft scouting report: Jermaine Johnson has high upside
By Dean Jones
Jermaine Johnson is an intriguing draft prospect, but is there any way the defensive end makes his way onto the Carolina Panthers in 2022?
The Carolina Panthers lost the services of Haason Reddick in free agency, who took his chances elsewhere by signing a mega-money deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. This leaves the defense short of reliable edge-rushing options despite the presence of Brian Burns, although there remains hope that someone like Yetur Gross-Matos or Marquis Haynes can make strides with additional playing time.
Just what stage of the draft Carolina is going to do this remains to be seen. It’s unlikely they would pull the trigger at No. 6 overall given their need for a franchise quarterback or left tackle, but general manager Scott Fitterer might also look to trade back for the capital given up in the Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson deals.
If this scenario comes to fruition, then the prospect of taking a stud pass-rusher appears more realistic. Jermaine Johnson is the next great defensive end to come out of Florida State and has soared up draft boards during the evaluation process thanks to his unique blend of explosiveness and athleticism.
Johnson is expected to go anywhere from the top-10 down during the first round and has the potential to be a high-impact player straight away with a smooth transition. Much will depend on whether the Panthers can fill other needs first, but it’s hard not to look at the player’s physical attributes and not think he wouldn’t help in a big way.
With this in mind, we took a look at the film to provide a thorough scouting report on Johnson and how he could help the Panthers.