As draft weekend ends, the NFL has offered a trade to fans of former Buckeyes C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Here are the terms: You offer money to purchase Stroud, Johnson or Smith-Njigba's draft night hats, jerseys or helmets – which feature their autographs and their NFL teams' colors and logo – and the NFL will donate proceeds to charitable organizations.
The NFL is auctioning my official autographed #NFLDraft @neweracap Hat, Jersey, and Helmet to support veterans and young student-athletes thru the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation.
— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) April 30, 2023
Visit:
Hat: https://t.co/vtNbVtxRyS
Jersey: https://t.co/u17fbnYdnB
Helmet: https://t.co/QEkSBt0PLI pic.twitter.com/IOKmuv6t1p
#Texans fans visit https://t.co/7xq49gBine now to bid on some of the first items CJ Stroud signed after his name was called at the #NFLDraft! All auctions support charitable organizations. https://t.co/vpNpxUSFK8 pic.twitter.com/MQM2vHq9Kd
— NFL Auction (@nflauction) May 1, 2023
While the charities that will benefit from purchases of Stroud's and Smith-Njigba's memorabilia are not listed on the NFL Auction website, proceeds from Johnson's items will go to The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation.
Johnson and his mother, Monica Daniels, started The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation after the state of Ohio passed name, image and likeness legislation in July 2021. The foundation's mission is to empower and serve "disabled veterans and disadvantaged student-athletes with dignity and respect" as it looks to provide them with helpful resources.
In the foundation's second year, the charitable organization received the Armed Forces Merit Award, which honors "an individual and/or group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football."
“The foundation established by Paris and his mother is very unique where a student-athlete and his family are actively involved with helping military veterans,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, after the award ceremony in November 2022. “While playing a key role on one of the nation’s top collegiate football teams, what Paris is accomplishing through his foundation is remarkable. We hope at least one player on every college football program in the United States can follow the exemplary example that Paris has set.”
The No. 6 overall pick to the Cardinals, Johnson's work with the foundation will continue at the next level. The NFL's auction, which has separate bids for Johnson's hat, jersey and helmet, is the first such example. The auction for those items – and those from Stroud and Smith-Njigba – will take place over the next 10 days.
For those who wish to bid on memorabilia and other items autographed by the former Ohio State players, click the links included below:
