NFL fans rip Cardinals after franchise drafts Paris Johnson to help their QB - “Kyler can’t even see over him”

The Arizona Cardinals were one of the biggest players at the start of the 2023 NFL Draft, as the team traded down from the third overall pick with the Houston Texans to the #12 and three picks later traded up to #6, which they used to select Ohio State left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

While the Cardinals were able to earn an extra first-round pick due to the deal with the Texans, the fact that Johnson Jr. was the pick left many NFL fans trolling Arizona for what they considered a reach.

In recent weeks, it has became clear that quarterback Kyler Murray was in favor of the team selecting Johnson Jr. But not everybody thought it was a good pick:

What does Paris Johnson Jr. bring to the Cardinals?

His versatility is something that attracts the attention from coaches. He has played at guard and then moved to left tackle, but more importantly, he's great in any system, being able to produce without a drop in production. Technically, he's already at a good level, and he's also a great athlete. He showed a very good evolutionary curve

If he continues like this, the sky is the limit. But he's not a perfect prospect.

His weight is below ideal, and with that, he suffers against stronger opponents, who sometimes take him out of the pass protection base. Sometimes he has lapses and is slow to react to defenders' movements, especially when they change direction quickly. He can be more aggressive on the first shot, making better use of his huge wingspan.

There's a lot of work for Murray to do in Arizona

Kyler Murray needed a new protector for his blind side after a year where he suffered with protection week in, week out. With his new friend, he will be sure that his blind side won't always be open, even though he needs to improve individually after such a bad year.

But the good thing for Arizona is that they recognized one of their biggest problems and went hard to fix it. Even if you think it's a reach, the fact that the Cardinals have an extra first-round pick next year can make this selection sweeter.