Joining Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase as the Cincinnati Bengals’ most recent draft pick is edge rusher Cedric Johnson.
Johnson, of Mobile, Alabama, was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 214th overall pick. Johnson was a clear defensive leader the last two seasons and amassed 19 sacks in his four seasons at Oxford, making him a valuable late-round selection for the Bengals. As the best defensive player at Ole Miss, he received the 2023 Chucky Mullins award.
The draft experts say the defensive end possesses all the right “measureables,” as seen by his 4.63 40-yard sprint at the combine. The main criticism levelled against Johnson is his lack of true dominance or his total output. Alright, alright, this is the freaking SEC, and practically nobody ever really dominates the defensive line, play by play.
At 6’3″ and 265 pounds, he might be able to drop down to linebacker in some packages if he decides to thin out. Johnson has the speed and size to be a roster player in the NFL, in my opinion. If anything, his level of technical expertise surpasses that of someone who is simply running by.
to make tackles and enter the backfield. He has the speed to pose a greater threat, and with the right defensive coordinators, he could be able to grow into the player Cincinnati needs.
This individual came to Ole Miss as a freshman during the COVID season and helped establish the programme, which led to the Rebels’ unprecedented 11-win campaign last season. The Bengals should be pleasantly surprised when they see him in the weight room and on the pitch because he played a significant role in the team’s defensive success over the previous four seasons.
