Cedric Johnson

Career StatsD-

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		18	3.0	27	1
2025		9	2.0	20	0
2024		9	1.0	7	1

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bengals secured exceptional value by locking up Cedric Johnson at just $1.0M AAV over four years, earning a B+ CVI that reflects smart roster construction at the margins. While Johnson profiles as a depth piece rather than a featured pass rusher, his production relative to this bargain-basement salary creates tremendous upside for Cincinnati's defensive rotation. At 25, he's entering his athletic prime with room to develop into a more substantial contributor, making the four-year commitment a calculated bet on untapped potential. The minimal $0.1M guaranteed money means the Bengals can cut bait without consequence if he doesn't progress, but the low base salary provides massive return-on-investment if Johnson takes the next step. This is exactly the type of shrewd depth signing that allows contending teams to allocate premium dollars elsewhere while maintaining defensive line rotation quality. Cincinnati's front office deserves credit for identifying a player whose ceiling far exceeds his current contract value, creating a win-win scenario where Johnson gets security while the team locks in a potential steal.

Performance Analysis

Cedric Johnson is a below-average edge rusher at this stage of his career, and his D- performance grade reflects a second-year player still searching for consistent production against NFL competition. His most encouraging single-game moment — a 10-yard sack on Shedeur Sanders that generated real attention — hints at the burst and closing speed the Bengals believe is in there, and his 20 tackles across nine games at least demonstrate his ability to contribute in run defense when healthy. The glaring weakness, though, is sack production: three sacks over two professional seasons is replacement-level output for a defensive end, and the pass-rush impact needed to justify a roster spot isn't showing up consistently enough in the box score. On a rookie scale contract at just $1M AAV, the financial stakes are negligible, which is precisely why Cincinnati can afford to be patient — a depth piece at this price carries almost no downside risk if the development curve plays out slowly. The media narrative heading into 2026 is cautiously optimistic and centered squarely on health and potential rather than anything Johnson has yet proven on the field, and that framing is accurate — he remains a developmental asset, not a proven contributor. The Bengals' aggressive offseason moves, including the trade for Dexter Lawrence II, signal a front office investing in defensive line help from multiple directions, which likely eases the pressure on Johnson to be a difference-maker immediately while still giving him an opportunity to carve out a role. At 23, the runway is real, but the production has to start materializing — the Bengals are a 6-11 team that can't afford to wait indefinitely on a player who hasn't yet taken that step.