The Bears have a decision to make regarding quite a few players who are eligible for a possible extension heading into next season. This list includes TE Cole Kmet, WR Darnell Mooney, WR Chase Claypool, DE Trevis Gipson, and CB Jaylon Johnson. The team will likely let at least one if not a couple of these players walk and/or be traded. It’s a business after all. So, one of the more fascinating decisions to monitor is how the Bears handle Jaylon Johnson. He is a very good cornerback in the NFL but his lack of takeaways might be the difference in him landing a big-time contract extension. DaBearsBlog’s new Editor In Chief, Robert Schmitz, might have figured out a fair solution for both the Bears and Johnson.
Is Jaylon Johnson Worth High-End CB Money?
Robert is throwing out a deal that would allow Jaylon Johnson to not only secure almost $18M in guaranteed money but also a chance to reset the cornerback market when he turns 26. The most important thing in this discussion is how does Johnson view himself? If you were to ask me, I believe JJ thinks he’s a top 10 cornerback and wants to be compensated like one. However, with the injury concerns and the lack of turnovers I mentioned earlier, I don’t see Ryan Poles dishing out a big-time deal for Johnson. I am a numbers guy and when you take a look at Jaylon’s they don’t necessarily jump out at you. Especially when you compare them to Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who is the highest paid cornerback in the NFL.
Jaylon Johnson since 2020
| Year | Games Played | Interceptions | Completion Percentage Allowed | Passer Rating When Targeted |
| 2020 | 13 | 0 | 59.7% | 101.9 |
| 2021 | 15 | 1 | 58.8% | 94.6 |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 | 56.4% | 107.5 |
Jaire Alexander since 2020
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| Year | Games Played | Interceptions | Completion Percentage Allowed | Passer Rating When Targeted |
| 2020 | 15 | 1 | 51.3% | 67.4 |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 | 54.5% | 83.7 |
| 2022 | 16 | 5 | 59.8% | 63.7 |
Again, JJ just isn’t at that elite tier yet. But the opportunity that Robert presented would allow Johnson the time to prove that he can be an elite guy at his respective position. Personally, I’d hate to see Johnson leave. I’d even be willing to pay him just a bit more at 2 years, $28M total with $19M guaranteed. He plays corner at a high/consistent level that is not the easiest to find or replace. And if you take him off this current roster, the cornerback room would be talked about in the same way edge is now. But the numbers have to align with his market value, and I am not sure where that honestly falls. If there is one thing we do know, it’s Poles likely has a number in mind, and he will stick to it. Just ask Roquan Smith.
I question how good is Jaylon? The D-Line hasn’t been producing so it may be unfair until you get snapshots of good pressure up front by which to measure Jaylon’s work. If it’s discovered that he isn’t producing when a QB is hurried then he should be low-balled on a contract. It depends on a proper analysis, which I’m not sure has been available for at least 2 years. I am not worried about this GM or coach finding a replacement. I’m just concerned that we don’t run off a good player who got slighted. The other players take notice… Read more »
WAIT? NO GLORIA? THANKS DAVE!
Author of what?
At that projected price and contract length, I am down. JJ might not be elite, but it’s not easy to find even “good” corners. Yes, you certainly hope the young guys blossom, but the hit rate overall around the league on corners is not great. Even 1st round corners. As all of the rest of you, I do wish he had more picks.. but when you have a young corner who is pretty decent, and if you can keep him at a pretty team friendly price, you do it. Especially when the rest of the corners on the team are… Read more »
JJ was just the best CBin a weak CB room. He would be CB3 or a reserve on a playoff team. I hope they do not resign him and find someone in the draft. I can see a drafting some combination of DE and either a second DE, CB or WR in the first round