Exploring The Pros and Cons Of Trading Jaylon Johnson

On Monday evening, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler revealed that the Bears have given cornerback Jaylon Johnson the green light to explore potential trade opportunities. This news comes as the 2023 NFL trade deadline looms, set for today at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. As the deadline approaches, the Bears must act quickly to either secure a trade deal or navigate the process of extending Johnson's contract.

One key question: What are Jaylon Johnson's contract extension demands, and are they reasonable? Negotiating such extensions involves various factors. This raises the question of why the Bears should consider extending Jaylon Johnson's contract and, on the other hand, why they might opt to trade him.

Jaylon Johnson is a player you extend, not trade

This season, Jaylon Johnson has been performing exceptionally well as a cornerback in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, he currently holds the third-highest grade among all cornerbacks, with a grade of 84.4. He has also snagged 2 interceptions while allowing a 37.3 passer rating, making him statistcally one of the top five cornerbacks in the league.

What's even more impressive is that Jaylon is just 24 years old and should get even better. His position as a cornerback is highly valued by many general managers in the league, including Ryan Poles. In my opinion, these factors make a strong case for extending Jaylon Johnson's contract. The pros heavily outweigh the cons in my opinion but more on that in a bit.

It's essential to invest in talented players, and Jaylon is undeniably one of them. If he continues to progress and maintains his health, there's a good chance he could become an great cornerback for the next 3 to 5 years. Taking into consideration that Poles is willing to take risks, such as trading for a player like Chase Claypool, it should be a reasonable decision to potentially offer a higher contract to a quality player like Johnson, especially given the premium position he plays.

Jaylon Johnson should be traded if he’s asking for too much money

Things become unclear when considering Jaylon Johnson's contract expectations. The top 5 cornerbacks in the NFL make around $18 to $20 million per year. In my opinion, Jaylon Johnson doesn't currently justify that level of compensation. This opinion is based on his limited ability to create turnovers and his tendency to get injured. Given his current performance in the NFL, it's hard to justify making him one of the top 5 highest-paid cornerbacks.

However, there is a different perspective. If you believe that Johnson will continue to improve and are willing to take a gamble on his potential to complete a full season without injuries, it might make sense for a team, including the Bears, to consider making him one of the top 5 highest-paid cornerbacks.

Jaylon Johnson and his team are likely seeking a range of $18 million per season, and they are unlikely willing to negotiate on this figure. On the other hand, Ryan Poles probably has his own number and is known for sticking to it. After conducting market research, I believe a fair deal for Jaylon would fall in the range of $14 to $16 million per year, which would still make him one of the top 10 highest-paid cornerbacks in the league.

The big question is what other NFL teams think he's worth. With Johnson having permission to seek a trade, we may soon discover whether his value aligns with the Bears perspective or if it falls lower in the eyes of other teams. This could work in favor of the Bears when it comes to reaching a deal, assuming their offer is more attractive or on par with what Johnson's market value turns out to be. The clock is ticking and both side need to act fast.

Again, I strongly believe Jaylon Johnson is a player you look to extend, not trade away.