Patrick

Johnson

McKee will be the third QB for the tilt against Los Angeles, with Sam Howell operating as the backup to Jalen Hurts. Shipley is out with an oblique injury, paving the way for Tank Bigsby and A.J. Dillon — not necessarily in that order — to get the carries behind bellcow Saquon Barkley.

Johnson spent the first three years of his career with the Eagles, from 2021-2023. He functioned as a special teamer and a rotational defender but his participation in the latter role was largely tapered off. Things remained the same in his one-off season with the Giants.

Johnson (6’2/240) became the first player in school history to receive All-AAC honors in three consecutive seasons and the sixth player to register 40.0 TFL over the course of his Tulane playing career. He also set the Green Wave all-time record with 24.5 sacks. Johnson wins with sound technique and varies the tempo of his pass rush very well, boasting one of the more effective spin moves you’ll see in this class. Knocks against him are that his 32” arms can cause him to get enveloped by larger tackles and his burst doesn’t match his testing results. He projects as a backup pass-rush specialist in the mold of Derek Barnett if developed properly.

Johnson (6'6/240) had a productive 2020 season for the Green Wave, as he accumulated 39 total tackles (28 solo, 14.5 for loss), 10.0 sacks, two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles in 11 games. With an eye towards the next level, the belief is that Johnson would be best served playing in a scheme in which he spends more time in a two-point stance as opposed to a three-point. “Given his experience and skillset, Johnson could quickly develop into a starter in the NFL,” Hodgkinson wrote. “He best projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker where his hard-charging mentality will make him a menace against the run and as a pass rusher when the opportunity allows.” Johnson projects to be a Day 3 selection in the upcoming draft.

Johnson (6'3/255) drew a grade of 89.0 last season, bettering returning runner-ups in Tulsa’s Trevis Gipson, USF’s Kirk Livingstone and Memphis’ Joseph Dorceus. Tangibly, he had 44 quarterback pressures last season, translating into an even 10 sacks. The junior additionally recorded 49 total tackles (14.0 for loss), five passes defensed and four fumbles forced across a full, healthy 13-game slate played.

Johnson (6'3/255) recorded 49 total tackles with 14 of them coming for a loss. He converted hiss 44 pressures into 10 sacks last season and figures to produce similarly as a junior. If he can continue to ascend there’s potential to land on the small-school NFL Draft radar.

Johnson is a big loss for the Green Wave, as he’s been one of -- if not the -- most effective defenders on the Tulane defense. He not only misses the rest of this game, but he’ll have to sit out the first half of next Thursday’s game against Houston.