Paris Johnson Jr. ready to take over Cardinals

The importance of playing on quarterback Kyler Murray’s blind side isn’t lost on Johnson. The position has long been considered a premier position. His last foray at left tackle came his senior year at Ohio State, when his quarterback was C.J. Stroud and the passing game included new Cardinals teammate Marvin Harrison Jr.

That’s when Johnson said he developed the mindset of how he should play left tackle.

“I think that’s what I’m most excited about,” Johnson said. “Especially when the protections are the long ones and the one-on-ones, (those) I tend to prefer, because halfway through the play, if you block them and you know they can’t go anywhere, you start smiling a little bit. ‘Oh man, the ball’s gone. The ball’s gone and it’s going to be a touchdown, it’s going to be a huge gain.’”

Johnson “is a specimen,” Murray said, so he makes sense on the left side.

“He’s played left in his life before, so he’s got to get back to it, and he will,” the quarterback said.

Left tackle is a premier position because of the players who have played there — Hall of Famers like Walter Jones and Orlando Pace, longtime stars like Trent Williams and Andrew Whitworth. Johnson watches them all.

In a perfect world, Johnson’s game would reach that same level, where young tackles would be told, ‘This is a guy you need to watch,’ and they would learn effort, finishing, technique.

That kind of performance can only help the Cardinals. And it would certainly garner admiration in the locker room.

“It’s all about respect,” Johnson said. “I’m always trying to improve, but also express myself more, especially at left tackle, which is a completely different role.”