Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Cedric Johnson has late season momentum to carry over from his rookie year

Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati's regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day's highlighted player.52 days remain until the Bengals' first game of the 2025 season, and No. 52 Cedric Johnson is looking for […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (52) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Paycor Stadium.
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Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati's regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day's highlighted player.

52 days remain until the Bengals' first game of the 2025 season, and No. 52 Cedric Johnson is looking for more action in his second season.

Cedric Johnson

Age: 22
Year: 2nd
Position: Defensive end
College: Ole Miss
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 52

Johnson enters his second season with the Bengals after being drafted 214th overall in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent four years at Ole Miss and played in 46 games going all the way back to his true freshman season. He started 29 games during his final three seasons with the program.

Johnson went under the radar during the pre-draft process, nearly falling to the seventh round before Cincinnati drafted him seven picks before the sixth round ended. He became the first of two Mississippi defenders drafted by the club, with safety Daijahn Anthony joining him 10 selections later. Both Johnson and Anthony made the 53-man roster as rookies, and the former made his debut in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders. He played in a total of nine games and took defensive snaps in each of the last four games. He recorded his first career sack in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos. 

Contract Details

Johnson is in the second year of his four-year, $4,158,388 rookie contract. He can earn a base salary of $960,000 this season, which represents his potential cash earnings for the year.

When adding on his signing bonus proration of $34,597, Johnson's salary cap hit for the 2025 season is $994,597.

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Roster Outlook

Making the roster as a rookie sixth-rounder was a crucial first step for Johnson, and when the defense started featuring his skillset as a pass rusher late in the season, he proved why he was there in the first place. He's now entering a training camp with two of his fellow DEs, Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart, not likely to practice without contract agreements, which will only boost his exposure in the middle of the depth chart.

Johnson will make the team if he's healthy and they opt for six at the position, which is entirely possible with Stewart potentially watching most of camp wearing a hat instead of a helmet. More depth should be needed if the first-round pick needs to catch up during the season.  

If there is a battle for Johnson to overcome, it'll be a bout with Cam Sample for the fifth spot. I think both are safe with how the staff will have to manage the position as a whole for the next six weeks as things with Hendrickson and Stewart get sorted.

Roster odds: 65%
Projected role: Reserve defensive end

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