Once the 2023 trade deadline came and went without Jaylon Johnson being dealt, it appeared likely the Bears would use the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl corner. Signs continue to point in that direction. 
Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily reports the Bears are set to apply the tag to Johnson this offseason. Doing so will cost roughly $18.4MM on the one-year tender, and provide a larger window for negotiations on a long-term deal. The expectation for much of the offseason has been that a tag is the likeliest outcome in this situation.
Johnson enjoyed a career-year in 2023, posting four interceptions and 10 pass deflections. He set new personal bests in coverage, allowing a completion percentage of 55.2% and a passer rating of 50.9. That made him a hot commodity on the trade front, with the Bears understandably setting a high asking price. In the end, Chicago elected to retain the second-team All-Pro and set up negotiations on a second contract over the course of the offseason.
In the wake of his impressive campaign, Johnson has publicly stated his goal of becoming the league’s highest-paid corner. The 24-year-old would need to find a deal worth more than $21MM per year to accomplish that, though he is in line for a substantial raise even if he does end up playing on the tag in 2024. If he has his way, Johnson will secure not only a multi-year pact, but manage to do remain in Chicago in the process.
“Heart’s definitely in Chicago, mind’s definitely on the money,” the former second-rounder told NFL.com at this week’s Pro Bowl. “So, I mean, we’ll figure out if we can make them both come together and get something done. I’m looking forward to see what’s to come.”
The Bears are set to have more cap space this offseason than most other teams, so absorbing the cap hit of a Johnson tag should not be challenging. Given the contrast of his first three seasons compared to 2023, though, it would be understandable if the Bears were hesitant to go beyond their price point on a long-term agreement. As things stand, therefore, a tag remains the expected move on Chicago’s part, and a decision on that front will need to be made no later than March 5.
Well we asked the question for the last 3 years. What would the Bears DB’s look like with a pass rush? And when Sweat got here we found out. Except for Eddie Jackson who fell off a cliff, Pretty good. Stevenson looked horrible until Sweat got here, After that he was pretty good. No CB can cover WR’s for 5 seconds which was what they were asking them to do. With a smart addition opposite Sweat it can get even better. But the problem still remains, Johnson wants top money. He’s not a top money guy and the Bears aren’t going to pay him like he is so the problem is a moot point. He’s going to be traded at some point so might as well tag him and deal him now and get it over with.
If you think it was impossible to fairly judge Bears secondary players until late this season, and you think they should tag him, why not tag him and give him another year to earn the top level contract? Even if you don’t think he’s a top ten corner in the league, if he’s anything like this last year, he’s a very good number one corner. They have plenty of draft capital and money, especially if they trade Fields.
I’d be fine with that. I’m just telling you from past experience the Bears still won’t pay him. The name Roquan Smith mean anything to you?
Roquan Smith wasn’t a great fit with Eberflus and his performance wasn’t great before he was traded. Jaylon Johnson was second-team All-Pro this year. Not really the same
Yeah Smith obviously did not want to be in Chicago so trading him was not a bad move.
Johnson has been looking for more money that he is worth before, during, and now after the season. The franchise tag is the right move to make. If he has another really good year, the Bears can franchise tag him a second time. After that, the Bears will likely move on.
What would the Bears DB’s look like with a pass rush? And when Sweat got here we found out.
=========================
It’s the same everywhere. Y’all could have a top-tier defense if you draft someone else that you can after the QB.
They need to at least tag him and keep him off the market for a season. I think they have a decent chance to sign him long term before camp with the caveat- he wants to be the highest paid corner- He IS a top corner but THEE top corner? Gonna be interesting to watch.
Johnson also dropped a couple of sure picks, including one that would have been a pick 6.
The Lions one was a game winner too. Could’ve put the playoffs in play.
Jaylon looked sharp at the Pro Bowl today
Bears really screwed up not extending him before the season. They have had so little home grown talent and here they had a rapidly progressing corner and a mountain of cap space but decided to sit on it and it’s going to cost them. Second worst decision of the Poles era behind the Claypool trade.
He wasn’t all that great before Sweat got here. So there was no need to extend him. In fact none of them were.
He was a top ranked CB before Sweat got there, hence why the debate at the time of the trade was who do you pay and who do you franchise.
No, Johnson was looking for way too much money before the season started. Poles did everything right in this case.
He had improved every year and was developing into a number 1 shut down corner before this year. He was asking for a competitive deal with other number 1 corners, now he wants top of the market money because he had a stellar stand out year. It absolutely was the wrong decision not locking him down before the season but of course the Bears are one of the cheapest teams in the league and will continue to watch their homegrown talent be great elsewhere.
Lol
We will only know how much Johnson is truly worth after his tag and with one more year to prove himself if in fact he is the best cornerback in the league?
I like how Johnson issued the Bears a ” Blunt Warning”. What blunt warning? What cards is he holding to issue a warning about anything? If you don’t pay me I’ll:
1. Cry
2. Pass up 18 million bucks and still owe the Bears a year
3. Demand a trade- Didn’t work last year
4. Suit up and fake an injury- That’ll help him in FA
5. Don’t sign the tag, wait til whatever day that is that satisfies the requirement
of him having played the year- That’ll help him in FA also.
That’s a lot of options. Unfortunately, They’re all bad for him.
Jaylon Johnson’s PFF rank the last 3 years were 84th, 50th and 67th. And while he finished 1st this year, so did 3 other Bears CBs in the Top 20: Stevenson, Gordon, Smith. Contract year performance aided by an improved pass rush. Tag and trade, but far from deserving to be paid as the highest CB.