It’s a new era in Minnesota.
Under the leadership of new general manager Kwesi Odofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, fans can finally be excited about an offensive-minded approach to modern NFL football. Gone are the days of Mike Zimmer neglecting the offense. We can all get excited about bolstering O’Connell’s new high-flying passing game at pick No. 12 right?
Well, probably not. For a regime known for its defensive prowess, Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman left the Minnesota Vikings defense with as many gaping holes as they did aging veteran stars.
The Vikings have major issues at edge rusher and cornerback. They’ll need to continue overhauling their linebacker room if they’re truly going to shift to new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell’s “Fangio-style” hybrid 3-4. Minnesota desperately needs young, quality starters on defense. At this point, they need them at all three levels. So when in doubt, let’s start the rebuild up front.
Enter Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. One of Us.
A rising star this draft cycle, the former Eden Prairie DE has been on a meteoric rise over the past 12 months. From a virtually unknown JUCO prospect to ACC Defensive Player of the Year and potential top-10 pick, Johnson has made the most of every opportunity to show NFL front offices exactly what he’s capable of.
The knock against Johnson would be that he’s a late bloomer. He came out of Eden Prairie High School with little fanfare and began his collegiate career at Independence Community College (aka “Last Chance U”). After two seasons at Independence, Jermaine was a top JUCO prospect who signed with Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. During his time at Georgia, Jermaine showed flashes but was largely buried on the Bulldog depth chart and unable to crack the starting lineup.
That would normally be a knock against him. But considering the entire Georgia defense is about to be drafted in the first three rounds, perhaps he deserves a mulligan.
Seeking an opportunity for playing time, Johnson transferred to Florida State in 2021. He joined a defense in desperate need of a pass rush and even more desperate for player leadership. Johnson began to make an impact the second he stepped foot in Tallahassee.
As a dominant force in the running game, Johnson showed toughness, relentless pursuit, and the ability to use his long frame to absorb incoming rushers straight through the man blocking in front of him. He showed explosiveness as a pass rusher, using his length and burst to get around the edge while showcasing an ever-growing repertoire of pass rush techniques.
Perhaps most importantly to the 2021 Seminole defense, Jermaine became a valuable leader. 70 total tackles, 18 TFLs, and a whopping 12 sacks only begin to tell the story of the man who brought FSU’s season back from the brink after an abysmal 0-4 start. His tenacious, 3-sack performance against Miami rallied the whole Seminole team back to win that game.
Johnson’s stock has only continued to skyrocket since the season ended. It began with a dominant week in Mobile, where he was nearly unblockable at the Senior Bowl. Then Jermaine stuck the landing with an impressive performance in Indianapolis, answering any questions about his measurables. Standing at a stout 6’5”, 254 lbs., with an 81-inch wingspan, he showed remarkable athleticism with a 4.58 40 yard dash.
Johnson also impressed at the podium, showing a rare balance of confidence and self-awareness. He offered a splash of competitive arrogance emblematic of a true alpha in the locker room. For Vikings fans overly concerned with the change in scheme, Jermaine has experience in the 3-4 and 4-3 during his time in Athens and Tallahassee.
“As long as I’m outside that tackle,” he said when asked which one he preferred. “I’ll be a headache for the other team.”
There is a lot of uncertainty with Danielle Hunter’s health and contract situation. Either way, the Vikings need a quality edge presence opposite him. Therefore, Johnson would be an excellent fit for Donatell to solidify his defensive front. Johnson is scheme versatile, tenacious, and is ready to step in and contribute immediately on all three downs.
Kwesi and his staff have plenty of questions to answer in the coming months. The front office is trying to change the culture and must make difficult decisions on many of the veteran leaders soon. Jermaine Johnson would be a clear step towards addressing both issues. He is the type of athlete and leader that Minnesota will value for years to come.
