At first, Lane Johnson thought he was Miami-bound

NEW YORK - Lane Johnson sat in the green room at Radio City Music Hall with his wife, parents, in-laws, aunt, uncle, and grandparents when an announcement was made that the Miami Dolphins had acquired the No. 3 pick.

Johnson's family started to hug him. There were smiles at his table, and the thought of replacing Jake Long on the Dolphins' offensive line and living near the beach with no state income tax entered his mind.

Then came the announcement that the Dolphins had selected Dion Jordan.

"Kind of took your breath away," Johnson said. "You're already kind of getting thoughts running through your head, what it would be like down in Miami. And after it happens, it's kind of a relief."

The relief was because Johnson knew the next team on the clock was the Eagles.

He knew of the Eagles' interest, including a conversation with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland on Thursday. He felt confident he could thrive in coach Chip Kelly's offense. And when the call came - first from a scout, then the phone was handed to Kelly, then to Stoutland - he knew it was official.

It sealed an improbable climb from playing quarterback at Kilgore College, a junior college that was the only school that wanted him. Johnson was moved to tight end, went to Oklahoma, and kept growing. He even had a stint at defensive end before eventually ending up at tackle, where the 6-foot-6, 303-pound Johnson has been able to grow into his body.

He also met his wife at Oklahoma. They married in January. His family is from East Texas, a small town called Groveton about two hours from Houston. There were 33 kids in his graduating class. He compared Groveton to Friday Night Lights - "just on a smaller scale."

Philadelphia will be much different. Johnson took a visit to Philadelphia before the draft. Otherwise, his knowledge of the city and its fans comes from the movie Invincible, about Vince Papale.

He will see Philadelphia on Friday.

"My story's just begun," Johnson said. "Still a lot of work to do."

When Johnson was asked how those in Groveton were celebrating his selection, he smiled again.

Said Johnson: "Maybe a lot of beer drinking, to be honest."