Jaylon Johnson Gives Big Update On Contract Situation

Ryan Poles isn't solely focused on outside free agents. There are several Chicago Bears players already on the roster that might deserve attention for contract extensions. David Montgomery is the most pressing as he prepares to hit the open market. Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney are probably the two biggest offensive names that could get new deals in the next month. However, the name people seem to have eyes on is Jaylon Johnson, the Bears' best cornerback. He enters the fourth and final season of his rookie deal. It makes sense for Poles to engage him on an extension.

Chicago has the money. They have more cap space than any team by miles. The obvious question is what kind of cash Johnson is looking for. One positive sign? It appears the team isn't being passive on this. The cornerback confirmed via CHGO that talks have begun.

“Yeah, for sure, for sure. There’s definitely conversation,” Johnson said.

Johnson made it clear he has no intentions to hold out if things don't progress at the pace he'd like. He will play out the fourth year of his deal, aiming to make it the best of his career to maximize his value. His goal is to stay in Chicago, but he won't press matters like former teammate Roquan Smith did.

“The opportunities have to be the right way, so I mean really for me not pressing it,” Johnson said. “Just accepting what is and then also knowing my value, my worth, but at the end of the day too, my job is to play football. So regardless of contract or not, I’m going to give the team everything I got and just continue to move on with my future.”

Jaylon Johnson could be the first of Poles' original plans.

The Bears GM repeatedly stated that his goal is to draft, develop, and pay in-house players. To him, that is how great teams are built. Rewarding Johnson for the good seasons he has stacked since arriving in 2020 would be a great message to the locker room. He'd wanted to do the same with Smith, but the linebacker made it clear his price tag was too high. So the Bears traded him. Johnson doesn't have a strong enough case to be among the highest-paid corners in football, but he should be able to secure a lucrative payday regardless.

Getting this done before the new league year begins would be preferable. The same will be true for Kmet and maybe Mooney. That would allow Poles to devote all of his focus to free agency and the draft. If cards are played right, the Chicago Bears could be a much younger, faster, and better football team by this summer. Jaylon Johnson has his own goals. While the contract situation works itself out, he hopes to correct the biggest issue that has plagued his career to this point: forcing turnovers. That is the one thing missing.