It can be easy to be overlooked at times when you are a rookie trying to find your way in the NFL. The speed of the game, the violence of the game and the jump in competition can all be overwhelming.

It can also be a lot easier to be overlooked when you were drafted with both the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year Award winners. Such is the case for Jermaine Johnson.

Couple Johnson’s lack of flash in his rookie season with the fact that the Jets drafted another first round edge rusher in the 2023 draft and one of two things can happen. Either you will see a guy who reignites himself and takes a step up, of you will see a guy who buckles under the pressure.

Johnson wasn’t thrust into the starting lineup like his rookie teammates in 2022. He became more of a rotational player in his first year. He only had 2.5 sacks and 29 tackles in limited work behind guys like Carl Lawson and Jonathan Franklin-Myers.

As the team’s offseason workouts came to an end, Johnson said he feels “insanely more comfortable” heading into his second season and that he feels prepared to take a leap on the field as well.

Johnson was taken 26^th overall out of Florida State when the Jets traded back into the first round following their two top 10 picks. A move that was highly praised at the time. Many thought the Jets were considering Johnson at pick 10 where the Jets took Garrett Wilson.

The Jets didn’t rely much on Johnson in his first season, using his rookie year as a way to get him up to speed on the Jets defense. That likely won’t be the case in year two and Johnson knows it.

“I just feel day and night in terms of explosiveness,” Johnson said during OTAs. “Explosiveness, technique, building my body, stuff like that. Just old school, you know. Just in the weight room all the time, eating, making sure I’m good. We like to make jokes. I just had a daughter, so now I have the father strength they call it or whatnot. But I’m just seeing crazy changes right now, it’s making me very excited and I know everyone else in the building is excited because when I’m at my best, I know it’s just going to help the team.”

Johnson needs to be an integral part of Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense if they want to reach the goals they had in mind when they traded for Aaron Rodgers. Carl Lawson is likely in his last season with the Jets and Jonathan Franklin-Myers will likely see some time inside this season.

It would be unfair to call Johnson a success or a bust at this point as we enter his sophomore season, but he is definitely much more of a work in progress compared to his stellar teammates.

In the end, he could wind up being the linchpin or the driving force for this defense in 2023.

Featured Image via Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports