Georgia Tech Pass Rusher High On Buccaneers' List

Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson is regarded as a strong possibility for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick after impressing team officials during an official visit at team headquarters and during an interview at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Pewter Report.
After sitting down with Tampa Bay General Manager Mark Dominik, coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jim Bates, Johnson is feeling positive about his chances.
“It went real well,” Johnson told Pewter Report. “I enjoyed meeting with the staff.  I’m from the South so I enjoyed being not too far from home. It seems like a young team and a young staff.
“That is always real fun to be around. You have that energy, and it seems to me like they are going to be competing for a Super Bowl championship in the near future, and I would love to be part of it.”
A league source told us that Johnson has also visited the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons.
The 6’7,” 266-pound Alabama native is regarded as an athletic specimen, runing the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds.
Johnson was ultra-productive for the Yellow Jackets, notching 19 career sacks, 30 1/2 tackles for losses, 10 forced fumbles and three blocked kicks.
As a senior, Johnson managed to pick up a sack, two tackles for losses and forced a fumble while squaring off with highly regarded University of Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. Monroe is projected to be drafted within the top five picks.

8 responses to “Georgia Tech Pass Rusher High On Buccaneers' List

  1. If they’re serious about this, then it seems like the Bucs would be reaching a little bit if they don’t try to trade down to get Johnson. He’ll probably be available late first/ early second round.

  2. He can be really good in the Bucs’ defense but I think Tampa Bay would be better off trading down into the late first round. There the Bucs could Ron Brace while picking up a 2nd rounder in the process. I would be totally fine with the Bucs picking Johnson though.

  3. “Ultra productive”? With 19 career sacks? Isn’t that like 6 sacks a year (assuming 3 years)

  4. I’m calling bs on this. They want freeman and don’t want the vikings to trade up and force them to pay out a boatload for him.

  5. This guys has BUST written all over him. I have never heard Mike Mayock rip a player more/harder than he has Johnson. He says on film this guy plays about 50% of the snaps and takes all the other plays off.

  6. This is one of those guys who has a freakish physique, but is a mediocre player….we already have one pussycat lanky Gaines Adams…This would be the weakest, lankiest set of bookends in the NFL…why don’t we just send the Carolina Panther’s Smash and Dash, an invitation to burn us to the edge and turn the corner on us…

  7. I like this, move Gaines Adams to his best side permanently at LDE and put Johnson in a rotation with Greg AKA Stylez G. White. The Buc pass rush has been anemic since Simeon Rice and Sapp left. Flawed or not, Michael Johnson is the best pure pass rusher in the draft, not even Mayock or Kiper or anybody else can dispute that.
    I would think they could move back a few spots to nab him and possibly net a 2nd…
    Whomever suggested Ron Brace is out of his mind… talk about unproductive, this guy had 50 tackles… the last two years. Brace couldn’t produce DESPITE playing next to Raji and never facing a double team and he was extremely average at the Senior Bowl, this fat fat fat guy is a 3rd rounder at best… I see 400 lbs in this tub’s future… and you really want that on your team?

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