Chicago Bears in Talks to Sign $6.5 Million Star Defender

The Chicago Bears aren’t waiting any longer to solidify one side of their secondary for years to come.

Mark Grote of WSCR Radio reported via social media on Monday, October 23, that cornerback Jaylon Johnson and the franchise are in the process of negotiating a long-term deal.

“#Bears CB Jaylon Johnson just told @ParkinsSpiegel that his representatives are working with the Bears on a potential contract extension,” Grote wrote.

Jaylon Johnson Pressing Bears GM Ryan Poles for New Deal

Johnson is playing in the final season of his four-year, $6.5 million rookie contract. Chicago selected the cornerback in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 50 overall).

As a second-round pick, Johnson became extension-eligible over the offseason and will hit unrestricted free agency in March if he can’t come to terms on a new deal with the Bears before then.

Johnson returned an interception for a touchdown during Sunday’s home win over the Las Vegas Raiders, after which he ran out of the end zone, took off his helmet and made a hand gesture universally understood to mean “make it rain.”

Reporters asked Johnson if his celebration was intended as a message to general manager Ryan Poles about the cornerback’s pending contract negotiations.

“You damn right,” Johnson said. “100%.”

“I’ve been wanting to get to the table,” Johnson continued. “I know who I am. I know I can play this game at a high level, and I feel like I deserve to get paid like that.”

Spotrac projects Johnson’s market value at $7.7 million annually over a new three-year deal. However, with the way the cornerback has performed through the first third of this season, he is liable to ask for — and receive — more than that.

Jaylon Johnson Putting Up Career Campaign for Bears During Contract Year

Johnson has battled injury over the course of his four-year NFL career and has struggled, at times, to make game-shifting plays.

While the cornerback has missed one contest due to a hamstring injury in 2023, he has come up with big plays in big moments more often than in past campaigns. Johnson had recorded just one interception across his first three years in the league, but he already has two in five appearances this season. He also scored the first defensive touchdown of his professional career on Sunday.

Johnson has 34 career pass breakups and has also forced 3 fumbles. He has been stellar in coverage, allowing opposing quarterbacks a collective completion percentage of just 52.9% and a collective rating of 28.4 — both of which are career-highs, per Pro Football Reference. Johnson has yet to surrender a touchdown in 2023, despite QBs targeting him directly on 17 occasions.

The Bears secondary is young and has struggled mightily at times this season. Johnson is clearly the best cornerback on the roster and is also a veteran leader, despite being just 24 years old.

There were some questions about whether Chicago should or would extend Johnson ahead of his impending free agency, though the cornerback’s play appears to have emphatically answered all doubts as to his worth.