Packers: 5 dream targets for Green Bay in 2022 NFL Draft

Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the Packers’ pass rush this offseason. Will Za’Darius Smith be released to create cap room? What’s next for Preston Smith?

My prediction is Za’Darius Smith will be released and the Packers extend Preston Smith’s deal to lower his cap hit. That’s fine. It leaves the Packers with a solid starting duo at edge rusher with Smith next to 2021 breakout star Rashan Gary.

But the Packers wouldn’t have much else. Depth is important for any strong pass rush and you can truly never have enough good edge defenders. The good news it that this is a strong edge rusher class.

Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson is one of the best in the class. He had 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss this past season.

Dominant at the Senior Bowl, Johnson looks set to be picked in the first round and potentially far higher than many predicted earlier in the year.

Ben Fennell of CBS and NFL Network had high praise for Johnson, tweeting that he is “in love with Jermaine Johnson’s pass rush arsenal” and that he was “blown away with his tape”. It’s hard to argue with that.

Johnson and Gary could give the Packers a dominant pass-rush combination for years to come.