Q. Congratulations. How does it feel to be drafted?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Man, it feels amazing. It's a weight off my shoulders. Now it's just time to get back to work and focus on football and win a championship now.
Q. If I could ask you, how much conversation did you have with the Eagles in the pre-draft process?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Yeah, it was actually very small amount of talk we've had, but I did have a little bit of interaction with them and it went pretty well.
Yeah, I'm excited about being an eagle now and getting to meet the coaches even more.
Q. You've been an edge rusher. They're listing you as a linebacker. Are you expecting to be an off-ball linebacker here? What kind of role are you seeing?
PATRICK JOHNSON: For me it's like whatever the coaches are going to need and bring to the table I'm going to bring. I'm a versatile player. I've done a little bit of both. When I talked to coach and the GM and stuff they said they want me to be a guy to come in and be able to be a good edge rusher for them and sack the quarterback and get some hurries and rushes and stuff.
Q. Set the scene for us. Who have you been spending time with this weekend? What was it like when you got the call?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Oh, man, so just to start off, I been with family and friends. We've most definitely had a great weekend so far just being together. Means the world to me that they all showed up. It was an amazing weekend.
Yeah, I got the phone call and it was an unreal feeling, something I been waiting for since I was a little kid. So to get it, it's awesome to hear.
Q. Curious if any of the assistance coaches have talked to you? Has it been Tracy Rocker, the defensive line coach, Nick Rallis, the linebackers coach, or are you looking at sort of a hybrid role or is it too early to decipher that?
PATRICK JOHNSON: I would say it's a little bit too early. I can't really recall which coach I had talked to since it was so early in the process when I did talk to them, but I knew there was a chance of going to Philly, so, yeah, it's been a very small role.
Q. You had a lot of production, I think 21 sacks. Not easy to get to the quarterback. How do you do it so effectively, and what do you need to work on to be even better as a pass rusher?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Yeah, for me, just keep getting stronger. For me, I feel like I'm a technician. I bring a lot to the table, especially as a rusher.
I have a lot of different counters, a lot of different speed to power moves. I just all around have a lot of moves up my sleeve, and I think Philadelphia fans are really going to love watching me play because of all the stuff I can bring to the table for the team.
Q. How familiar are you with the roster?
PATRICK JOHNSON: I know a good little bit. I grew up not an Eagles fan. Actually, grew up a Falcons fan so it was a little different, but I do know of some players, like Barrett (?) And stuff like that. I'm excited to get to meet these guys and pick their brains and learn from them.
Q. Do you know who the quarterback is?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Yes, sir, Jalen Hurts.
Q. Okay. Just checking.
PATRICK JOHNSON: Yeah, we good there.
Q. Patrick, if this is something you're comfortable discussing, you missed the bowl game because of the death of your father who I'm sorry to hear that obviously.
PATRICK JOHNSON: Thank you.
Q. What was the relationship like there? And being drafted, was that something that you thought about at the moment you were drafted?
PATRICK JOHNSON: Yeah, man, it was -- my relationship with my father, we were very, very close. My dad played football over here at UTC at Chattanooga, so was an offensive lineman, left tackle. Big guy, 6'5", 315, 320 when he played ball.
Me and his relationship, it was a lot of football, but he taught me how to be a great man on and off the field. So with all this going on it's been pretty hard, but at the same time, it's like going to keep moving forward because I know that's what he would want me to do.
It sucks to not have him here to celebrate this with me because he's been here all may life. I'll be good though, man. Going to bring a championship in.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports