The Chicago Bears have locked up one of their cornerstones on Thursday, agreeing to terms on a four-year contract extension with Jaylon Johnson. The Bears and Johnson have reportedly worked out a $76 million deal, just a mere 48 hours after the team slapped a non-exclusive franchise tag on the 24-year-old cornerback.
According to ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter, $54 million is guaranteed and the Bears will dole out $60 million over the initial three years.
“We’re extremely excited to be able to keep Jaylon here for the next four years,” general manager Ryan Poles said. “He’s an integral part of our defense and his leadership will help our team continue to ascend. We want to thank Chris Ellison for helping get this extension done.”
Johnson was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah. He has a lot of experience under his belt, starting all 53 games he has played in over four seasons, compiling 161 tackles, five interceptions, 41 pass breakups, four tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
In 2023, the 6-foot, 196-pounder was voted second-team All-Pro and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod. He recorded 36 tackles, a career-high four picks, one of which he returned 39 yards to the house for his first career touchdown, 10 pass breakups, one tackle-for-loss and one forced fumble.
Embed from Getty ImagesAccording to Pro Football Focus, Johnson stifled opposing quarterbacks to the tune of a 26.2 passer rating when targeted in single coverage in Weeks 1-14, the lowest figure among cornerbacks in 2023. When signal callers decided to challenge him, they knew they were in for a long day. Through the first 15 Weeks, he gave up only 185 yards in single coverage. Johnson also had only one game where he allowed more than 25 yards in single coverage (PFF).
Johnson was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year which opens March 13, but the Bears said not so fast and placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on the 24-year-old Tuesday. That gave them the opportunity to match any offer he received from another NFL team or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they chose not to match the deal.
After Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs inked a five-year, $97 million extension in training camp, Johnson stated that the deal gave leverage and reset the entire defensive back market but did not believe it would hamper his negotiations with Chicago.
With Johnson having agreed to the extension, the Bears have secured another piece of a young, talented secondary that includes cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jaquan Brisker.
