Brock Purdy was the final pick of the NFL Draft a year ago by the San Francisco 49ers, earning the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” Last season, he took over for injured quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo and led the 49ers to the NFC championship game.
Former Detroit East English defensive end Desjuan Johnson hopes to work that same magic with the Los Angeles Rams after being selected No. 259 overall, the last pick of the seventh and final round to become this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Johnson, who played his college ball at Toledo, had a long day Saturday while watching the draft at his family’s home in Detroit.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the place that I got picked is a very special place,” Johnson said. “It was all about getting a chance last year (with Purdy) and I know now that I have to continue that.
“It was a long process. We were watching the last couple of rounds and the Rams organization let me know that they were going to give me a chance, that they would use their last pick on me.”
Johnson had 12½ tackles for loss and was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference in 2021, then returned to earn first-team all-conference honors this past fall while helping Toledo win the MAC championship.
Johnson became the third player from East English to be drafted during the last three years, joining Iowa defensive end Chauncey Golston (Cowboys, third round) in 2021 and Toledo cornerback Samuel Womack III (49ers, fifth round) last season.
In fact, it was Womack and the 49ers that battled Golston and the Cowboys for the right to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game last season. Johnson hopes to one day be in that position as well.
Johnson said he learned a lot from playing for head coach Rod Oden while at East English. Oden also coached Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham (Michigan) at Detroit Crockett and Texans cornerback Desmond King at East English. King went on to become Big Ten defensive back of the year while at Iowa before being picked in the fifth round of the 2017 draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Coach Oden was not only a great coach, but he’s a great person and a great human being. He told me how to be very persistent and be consistently great through hard work,” Johnson said. “Growing up in Detroit you face adversity every day so one of the things he harped on was teaching persistency and how to continue to be at your best when you’re at your lowest.”
Johnson said it was important for Graham, King and others to come back home and talk with younger players.
“Coach Oden is a very traditional person. The guys always came back and gave us speeches, motivational speeches about what to experience. I felt it was great to experience that, to see guys who have already been through my shoes and accomplished it because that means I can accomplish it, too,” Johnson said.
Johnson has been in contact with Womack, his former high school and college teammate.
“He asked me if I put my best foot forward and gave it my all,” Johnson said. “I told him I felt like I gave it my all and he said everything is in God’s hands. You just have to be patient. That’s what I did.”
Now, Johnson’s journey really begins in the weeks and months ahead.
Cass Tech adds to rich tradition
Detroit Cass Tech had two of its former players drafted, both coming in the seventh round. Central Michigan running back Lew Nichols III was picked No. 235 overall by the Green Bay Packers and Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham went No. 255 to the 49ers.
Cass Tech also had three former players sign free agent deals — Kentucky linebacker DeAndre Square with the Rams, Toledo linebacker Dyontae Johnson with the Giants and Akron defensive end Zach Morton with the Lions.
Cass Tech had five alumni playing in the NFL in 2020 and could top that if Nichols and Graham make their teams.
Former Michigan receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who was drafted by the Browns in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, had 61 receptions last season. His Michigan teammate Michael Onwenu was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in that same draft and moved to right guard this past season, where he was Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 ranked player at the position.
Former Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round in 2017 and former Illinois linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips, an undrafted free agent, is playing with the Ravens.
“I think being able to have coached a lot of young men and playing a part of their ultimate goal of being a pro football player, to me it’s fulfilling to have someone dream and have a vision and then fulfill that dream and that vision and you can be a part of him making that accomplishment,” said Thomas Wilcher, who was the head coach at Cass Tech when Nichols and Graham played several years ago.
“When you see a young man who invested in himself, believed in himself and you take his own beliefs and own vision and help him materialize it so he can become the person he wants to be, it’s rewarding and fulfilling as a person.”
david.goricki@detroitnews.com