Kansas Jayhawks defensive end picked by Eagles in Saturday’s 6th round of NFL Draft
Kyron Johnson’s best season at Kansas was his last, and it helped him get selected in the NFL Draft.
The Jayhawks defensive end was taken in the sixth round, No. 181 overall on Saturday, by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s an exciting moment,” Johnson said. “I’m willing to play wherever the coaches want to put me. I’m just ready to play. I did have a little bit of sense (the Eagles could pick me) because my agent was talking to me about them, but you never know how the draft will play out.”
Johnson is the third Kansas player drafted since 2018. That year, Dorance Armstrong Jr. was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round; tackle Hakeem Adeniji went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round in 2020.
Johnson, a fifth-year senior from Arlington, Texas, was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season. At 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, he will likely become a pass rusher/linebacker hybrid in Philly, and he’s certainly a candidate to see playing time on special teams.
Last season, Johnson forced quarterback 40 pressures, finishing ninth in the nation with four forced fumbles. He recorded two strip-sacks in the Jayhawks’ victory over Texas and didn’t commit a penalty in 655 snaps.
This story was originally published April 30, 2022 at 4:05 PM.