Heading into his rookie campaign, Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was uncertain as to which side he'd be playing on -- or even if he'd be playing guard.
The 2023 first-rounder is far more confident coming into his second season and far more certain of the future ahead for Arizona's 2024 first-round selection, former college teammate Marvin Harrison Jr.
A true believer that it all starts up front, Johnson opined Tuesday that -- just like at Ohio State with C.J. Stroud -- his focus is on bestowing Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray with ample comfort to go long to Harrison as often as possible.
"My mindset was just let C.J. just do his thing. And that's my thing, I want Kyler to be able to do his thing," Johnson told reporters. "Don't worry about whoever's over here, just do your thing, that's why you're here. And just throw it to Marvin and we'll be good. You know what I mean? That's what I'm excited about and I think all that starts because of what we do on the line."
Taken sixth overall by the Cardinals in the 2023 šú˛úÍâÁ÷ÍřDraft, Johnson played all but one snap at right tackle in his rookie season. His other snap was at tight end. Now, he's settling in at left tackle, aiming to protect Murray's blindside and provide the first step in plenty of big plays from Harrison.
Harrison, selected at No. 4 overall for the Cards this year, has all the makings of a can't-miss, instant-impact prospect. Harrison was the model of astonishing consistency, producing 14 touchdown receptions and 1,200 receiving yards in each of his past two Buckeyes seasons.
Johnson has seen first-hand what Harrison can do after the two played a pair of seasons together with the Buckeyes. It was at Ohio State in which Johnson developed his mindset of what succeeding at left tackle means and playing his part in game-breaking gains.
"I think that the mindset for me has always has been that when I win my one-on-one, the ball goes down the field," Johnson said. "And I think that's what I'm most excited about just being a left tackle is that, especially with the protections that are a little bit longer plays where the left tackle tends to be one on one, are the plays I tend to love the most, because kinda like halfway through the play where you're locking him up and you just know that he can't go anywhere, you start to smile a little bit. You're like, 'Oh dude, ball's gone.' You know what I mean? Ball's gone and it's gonna be a touchdown, it's going to be a huge gain. For me, that's kinda the mindset you kinda have to have at the left tackle spot is that as soon as I win my rep, we're going down the field."
Clearly embracing his new role as starting left tackle, Johnson is just as transparently elated to team up again with Harrison and help set up big plays aplenty.
He saw what it looked like in college and is hoping to bring it down to the desert.
"Obviously, I played with a lot of great guys in college," Johnson said, "I'm glad we have one of those guys here to throw the ball to."
