The Chicago Bears are up against the clock now. Jaylon Johnson becomes a free agent next month. The franchise tag window is open until March 5th. That means they have less than two weeks to hammer out a contract extension before using the tag to make sure he stays put. Thanks to another massive rise in the salary cap, the tag number is looking like $19.8 million for the 2024 season. GM Ryan Poles has said his goal is to extend Johnson and will keep working at it until the two sides find common ground.
Every indication since last season has been that the cornerback wants to get paid top money. That isn't a surprise after he notched four interceptions and a Pro Bowl nod. He feels like he earned it. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus is one of the top cap experts in the field. His assessment is that Johnson may look to reset the cornerback market. That means something north of $21 million per year. It is hard to imagine him accepting anything lower than $20 million.
Chicago has upwards of $80 million in projected cap space, so it isn't a question of whether they can afford it.
Jaylon Johnson is a lynchpin to the Bears defense.
That much was obvious from how the 2023 season played out. Quarterbacks didn't like throwing the ball in his direction because the coverage was always good. This forced them to attack rookie Tyrique Stevenson more often, resulting in him collecting four interceptions of his own. His presence also allowed the pass rusher extra time to get after the quarterback. It wasn't a surprise when Jordan Love had an easier time passing against the Bears in the season finale with Johnson out with injury.
The reality is that good cover cornerbacks are hard to come by. When you have one, it is wise to keep them around. Jaylon Johnson proved last year that he is in the conversation of one of the NFL's best. Poles said he wants to reward in-house players. This is the perfect opportunity to prove it. Give the guy a contract he deserves. Show the rest of the team what rewards await them if they too take their games to a high level. Things should come into focus within the next 12 days.
