Florida State outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson was widely considered one of the top players in this year’s Senior Bowl. After the first day of practice in Mobile, he left little doubt about it. From the first session of one-on-ones to the final play of 11-on-11, Johnson was unstoppable.

Whoever Johnson faced got schooled. As a pass rusher, the Florida State outside linebacker won with brute force or quick inside moves. He hit a spin move that drew an audible reaction from the crowd on Tuesday. OL vs DL one-on-ones are slanted to the advantage of the defender. But Johnson’s moves still looked translatable to the NFL.

Johnson’s performance will have him ascending draft boards this week. He already won the weigh-in, tipping the scales at 259 pounds on a 6-4 frame with over 34-inch arms. Make no mistake, Johnson is an imposing dude on a field full of NFL physiques. And he plays with the type of energy coaches will love too.

On the backside of one run play during a team session, Johnson erupted into the backfield for a stop. Later, on the final day of practice, the Georgia transfer executed a sick push-pull move for a would-be sack. Given the limited reps Johnson received during a heavy rotation practice, he was startlingly dominant.

Could Johnson Be On Bucs’ Radar?

In just one year at Florida State, Johnson put himself squarely on the NFL radar. The redshirt senior piled up 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss during the 2021 season. Few defensive players in the country were as dominant as Johnson. But where was this impact early in his career? Was Johnson too late of a bloomer to become a top 20 pick?

If he slides down the board in a deep edge defender class, the Bucs could be interested. Johnson’s presence alongside Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Shaq Barrett would be startling. He’s already one of the most physical defenders in the class, which is the top priority for GM Jason Licht when scouting trench players. Granted, outside linebacker is not the Bucs’ biggest position of need. But Johnson’s athleticism and power were on full display on Tuesday, rarely losing a rep. Those traits with his play demeanor will be attractive to the Bucs. If he can keep that up this week, he’ll make Tampa Bay think hard about drafting another edge defender early this year.