Pros and cons of Cincinnati Bengals picking Ole Miss' Cedric Johnson in 2024 NFL Draft

Cedric Johnson from Ole Miss football is officially an NFL rookie after being picked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Here's what Johnson brings to Cincinnati, based on our own observations from his tenure at Ole Miss:

What Cedric Johnson brings to Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 NFL Draft

Johnson is a classic edge-rusher with four years of solid production at the SEC level, playing in a variety of different systems at Ole Miss, where he had three different primary defensive coordinators. Johnson demonstrated his strong athleticism at the combine this winter, where NFL.com gave him an athleticism score that ranked sixth among the defensive ends present.

The native of Mobile, Alabama, endured some injury issues that slowed down what might have been a more statistically explosive junior season. As a senior, he helped spark coordinator Pete Golding's defensive turnaround that sent the Rebels to the Peach Bowl and helped them win 11 games for the first time in program history.

Cedric Johnson's highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Ole Miss football

At Ole Miss, Johnson was a player whose consistency outweighed his ability to raise eyebrows in short bursts. He put together three multi-sack games during his four years with the Rebels. The most notable of that bunch came in a 2022 loss at LSU. 

As previously mentioned, he's undoubtedly an NFL-level athlete. And he's got NFL-level professionalism. He won Ole Miss' prestigious Chucky Mullins Award last year, which is presented annually to a Rebel defender who best displays courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.

The absence of a campaign with truly explosive sack totals could be considered a point against Johnson. He delivered at least three sacks in all four of his seasons with the Rebels, but never achieved more than 6.5. NFL Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein also expressed concerns over his ability to shed blocks in the run game, as well as his read-and-react skills.

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Cedric Johnson 2023 stats at Ole Miss football

• 12 games
• 40 tackles
• 5.5 sacks
• 6.5 TFLs
• 1 forced fumble

Cedric Johnson potential in NFL

Zierlein has Johnson graded as an average backup at the NFL level. With his athleticism, it's easy to see a world where he grows into more than that. Johnson is polished enough to contribute early and has the right temperament to learn and grow as his career persists.

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

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