Bengals Player Profile: Cedric Johnson is the favorite to round out Cincinnati’s new defensive end group
Everyone who isn’t a top-50 pick or just signed a major deal will be looking up to Cedric Johnson on the depth chart when training camp begins for the Cincinnati Bengals.
We’re 49 days (seven weeks!) away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. We’re pushing on with our player-by-player review of the Bengals’ 90-man roster. Check out previous player profiles here.
The next player on the countdown has half the countdown in the books, our next player is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled year.
Cedric Johnson Player Profile
Age: 23
Year: 3rd
Position: Defensive end
College: Mississippi
Jersey Number: 52
Cedric Johnson was drafted No. 214 overall in the sixth round by the Bengals in the 2024 NFL Draft. Prior to the NFL, Johnson played four years in college at Mississippi (2020-23). He started 29 of the 46 games he played, and recorded 112 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.
Johnson made the Bengals’ 53-man roster as a rookie and played in nine of the 10 games he was active for. Sam Hubbard’s season-ending injury allowed him to play more often to close out 2024, which is when he notched his first-career sack in Week 17.
A calf injury sidelined Johnson for the first half of 2025. He returned to play in nine games, posting 14 tackles and two sacks.
Contract details
Johnson is entering the third year of his four-year, $4,158,388 rookie contract. His base salary for 2026 is the minimum $1,075,000 for his level of experience. That is also his cash figure for the season. When adding on his signing bonus proration of $34,597, his salary cap hit for the year is $1,109,597.
Roster outlook
Cincinnati has added Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell to bolster the DE spot following Trey Hendrickson’s departure. Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart remain entrenched in the rotation as incumbents.
Johnson should also feel secure in his standing right underneath the main players. He’s firmly in the top-five in this group, and was seen taking second-team reps during OTAs. Having two years in the system and slowing growing his production and playing time will only play into his favor.
Everyone who isn’t a top-50 pick or just signed a major deal will be looking up to Johnson on the depth chart when training camp begins.
Roster odds: 90%