Arriving at a quarterback decision is the top offseason priority for the Bears, and the team could have a firm direction on that front in the near future. Finding a way to retain cornerback Jaylon Johnson is also high on the to-do list for general manager Ryan Poles, though. 
When speaking to the media at the NFL Combine on Tuesday, the latter confirmed that extension talks are still ongoing between the team and Johnson’s camp. Specifically, he noted (via The Athletic’s Adam Jahns) that “conversations are going well” on that front. Obviously aiming to avoid the franchise tag, Poles and the Bears have an offer on the table (h/t Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times).
Johnson enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023, recording four interceptions and 10 pass deflections. Those figures represented an uptick in ball production and earned him a Pro Bowl invite as well as second-team All-Pro honors. Of course, the 24-year-old’s market value has seen a healthy increase as a result of his play during his walk year. Trade talks in the build-up to the deadline did not produce an agreement, and Poles has subsequently stated Johnson will remain in Chicago for at least one more season.
That goal could be achieved by using the franchise tag, a rarity for corners but a backup plan which would ensure the former second-rounder does not reach the open market. Johnson has stated a desire to become the league’s highest-paid corner, which would require an AAV of more than $21MM on a new deal. Working out a pact in that price range will be a challenge for both parties, but it is striking that Poles spoke with considerable optimism when providing an update on the situation.
Chicago is once again in position to have considerable spending power in free agency, though retaining Johnson on a lucrative pact will eat into a large portion of the team’s cap space (especially if the $19.8MM tag is used). The window to apply tags is March 5, but Poles’ stance indicates a long-term agreement could be in place by that point.
Johnson is a very good but not great corner. He should be paid, but not at what the top guys are pulling down.
He’s not but if the Bears manage to resign him at a decent number then CB isn’t a position that needs to be addressed anymore. He still has injury history problems and if the Bears add a premium DE to go with Sweat the whole CB group should be improved. DE,S and C should be the most important adds for the Bears this off season. Plus trading down the #1 to get deeper at WR and OT should be on the menu.
Except he wants to be the highest-paid CB. Reconciling his wishes with those of the Bears can be difficult when you know some other GM will blow their cap to land him.
If he really wants that he’ll be gone just like Roquan Smith.
He absolutely is a great corner. He was very good before this season.
He was a top-5 player at the position last year.
QBs have a better QB rating when they spike the football than when they throw at Jaylon Johnson. Not sure how you don’t consider him a great qb
He was, according to PFF, the #1 highest graded CB last year. And that was while dropping 2 pick sixes. Easily could have graded out as the best CB of all-time by their standards.
Generally these discussions are based on guaranteed money. If the Bears can guarantee him more money, maybe he’ll take a lower AAV. The cap went up roughly 13%, players are gonna wanna be paid. And besides, Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain will reset the market next year.
Seems silly not to lock him up. He played great, he’s still young, and with the other corners they have on rookie deals, it will still be a very reasonably priced position group. Seems wiser than creating a new big need when they would rather be spending their draft picks elsewhere.
Hopefully Poles sticks to his guns and doesn’t allow the extra cap space to go into JJ’s pocket. He is a very good corner but is not the leagues best.
I’m not sure why everyone is so against paying one of the better CB’s in the league. I mean the dude’s in the top 5, he deserves to be paid as such.
The players that put in the work, up their performances, and sacrifice their bodies for sport and entertainment should by all means be rewarded at or better than the rate of profit of the owners, who basically aren’t risking a thing. JJ is precisely the kind of character player that deserves to be resigned and eclipse the current highest CB deal, while the next Uber CB up will eclipse his (eg, Sauce Gardner).
I think he’s earned the payday. A franchise tag at this point will only piss him off in my opinion I realize he may not be worth the money they’ll have to spend, but someone else will, and we will regret it.
The Bears have a long standing tradition of always playing financial hard ball with the top performers on the club when those guys want a salary increase. The irony is the Bears will then turn around and throw big money at bums like Mike Glennon who have no value at all.
Lemon- it’s the Bears long standing tradition of long drawn out negotiations with star players that’s exasperating. Make a decision, Then pay the man or don’t. The Sweat extension shocked the crap out of me. They gave a guy who played 3 games with them an extension. They made a decision and acted. I almost fell off my chair. Now that they have the Franchise tag again they’re back to dragging things out ad nauseam. Make a decision, It can’t be hard to figure out. Either you want him or you don’t. Act!