Cedric Gray rookie contract figures with Tennessee Titans revealed after 2024 NFL Draft
After falling to Day 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft, Cedric Gray didn’t have to wait long in the fourth round to find out what’s next. He’s heading to Tennessee as the Titans’ fourth-round pick, and his contract figures have been revealed.
Gray is set to sign a four-year contract worth $4.9 million, according to Spotrac. He will also receive a $846,880 signing bonus as part of the deal. He will not, however, have a fifth-year option since those only go to first-round picks.
Gray put up career numbers in 2022 when he had 145 tackles, 12.0 TFLs and two interceptions, and he had another big year in 2023. As a senior, he totaled 121 tackles, 11 TFLs and 5.0 sacks to anchor the UNC defense.
Gray played high school football at Audrey Kell High School in Charlotte (NC) where he was a three-star prospect, ranked the No. 810 overall recruit and the No. 87 linebacker in the country in the 2020 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He was named First-Team All-ACC twice in his career, a Second-Team All-American by Sporting News and Pro Football Focus in 2022, and a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2023. Ranked third in the FBS for total tackles in 2022 and top 20 in the nation in the most recent college football season.
Gray’s measurables don’t jump off the page, standing at 6-foot-1.5, 234 pounds and running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Combine. But there was no denying that he was constantly around the ball during his North Carolina career, displaying a high football IQ as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who racked up a ton of tackles. Which he’ll look to continue doing at the next level.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Cedric Gray
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein gave Gray a fourth-round grade ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, also breaking down how he projects the former Tar Heel playing a role with his new team.
“Gray’s production, length and play speed will work in his favor, but he is better suited playing as a weak-side ‘backer where he can run and chase the action. Finding and securing his run fits can be an issue due to a lack of play strength and technique near the line of scrimmage,” Zierlein said. “His instincts are just average, but Gray can be a disruptive defender when playing proactively and taking aggressive, downhill shots rather than waiting on the action. His playing style won’t be for everyone, but he does have backup potential if he’s allowed to cut it loose and play fast rather than with force.”