If one were to point out the favorite pick made by the Chicago Bears among most draft experts, it would have to be Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson. GM Ryan Pace secured him with the 50th pick in the 2nd round. More than a few gave him a 1st round grade. The only reason he fell was due to a series of shoulder surgeries he had to deal with. Nobody bothered to point out he only missed two games despite that and played well.
Belief is Johnson is 100% healthy now and should be a favorite to claim the starting corner job opposite Kyle Fuller. This would hopefully give the Bears two quality cover corners to go along with their vastly upgraded pass rush. For his part, Johnson is grateful for the opportunity and anxious to show people what he can do.
One thing is for sure. The guy doesn’t lack confidence. People will often find that the best cornerbacks tend to come off as cocky. Like there isn’t a receiver on the planet they can’t cover. In speaking with the media after being drafted, Johnson exhibited that exact sort of personality.
“Honestly, I’m a baller,” Johnson said. “I’m a real strong competitor. At Utah, I had to be the No. 1 corner and going out every week and shutting down No. 1 wide receivers. I’m used to getting after it. I’m used to challenging guys. I never shy down from competition. In big games, there was never a time I didn’t show up and make plays.”
Jaylon Johnson doesn’t boast. He tells the truth
It’s not like what he says is lying. Over his final two years, opponents did not enjoy throwing in Johnson’s direction. He had four interceptions in 2018 and two interceptions with another 11 passes defended last year. This including two big pick-sixes. He brings physicality, attitude, and competitiveness on every single snap. This, in turn, overshadows how good of an athlete he actually is. There is a genuine belief that in a couple of years he’ll be the best cornerback on the team and maybe one of the best in the league.
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If that proves true, this might go down as one of Pace’s best draft picks. He’s had a lot of success in the 2nd round since he took over in 2015. Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair are his two biggest pillars with James Daniels and Anthony Miller also being nice contributors. Johnson certainly has the talent to exceed his draft position. Not to mention the attitude. He will be fun to watch.
