NEWSLETTER
It seems to me like Jaylon Johnson is changing his tune.
The Chicago Bears cornerback has been angling for a much-deserved extension for some time now. But to this point, a deal hasn’t gotten done. Despite Johnson changing agents, using public platforms to express his desire to stay, and requesting a trade in an attempt to get the ball rolling on a deal, nothing has happened. In fact, that nothing happened at the trade deadline led to reports surfacing that Johnson was shutting down in-season extension talks.
And yet, I held out hope that cooler heads would prevail. Perhaps this is a sign that a thaw is in process:
Johnson expands on those thoughts in the latest from Jason Lieser at the Sun-Times.
“Couldn’t see myself anywhere else (but with the Bears),” Johnson said. “We’re building something special, too, especially with the guys in the locker room. I don’t think it’s something I can get anywhere else.”
Pay this man his money. Seriously. Do it now.
MORE: Jaylon Johnson’s Price Tag Continues to Soar
Despite what has been a tumultuous and uneven year in so many ways, Jaylon Johnson wants to remain with the Chicago Bears. For me, it speaks to what GM Ryan Poles is building from the ground up at Halas Hall. But it also suggests that Johnson sees the vision and wants to be a part of it. There is something admirable about players who are willing to rough it out in tough times because they believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Jaylon Johnson wants to see it through with the Bears
Let’s keep it simple, folks. A home-grown top talent at a premium position wants to stick around in Chicago. That is good news. Not only is Johnson in the prime of his career, but he is also in the early stages of said prime. The 24-year-old Utah product projects to have more peak years in the seasons to come. We’re getting a good version of Johnson now. But the best could still be yet to come.
But even if this is Johnson’s peak, it is pretty darn good. Johnson’s 2023 season could end today and we’d have four seasons with a body of work for a cornerback who is one of the NFL’s best. Durability concerns aside, Jaylon Johnson has consistently played at a high level for the Bears. And he has done so while playing for four different play callers (Pagano, Desai, Williams, Eberflus) and three different schemes (Pagano, Desai, Eberflus/Williams each have wrinkles that make each style unique). Mix in Johnson’s leadership and that he is a Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner and it makes you wonder how a deal hasn’t been cut in the first place.
Extending a player like Jaylon Johnson should be a priority for a Bears team that (1) has money to spend and (2) insists it wants to do so on the right players. We saw this team do it with Montez Sweat. It’s about time to do the same with Johnson. Jaylon continuing to prop open the door has me feeling like there is a real chance something can get done before the team has to make a decision on the Franchise or Transition Tag later this winter. Maybe that is rooted in me being an optimist at heart. But if someone is going to keep that door open for you, then you might as well walk through it.
I am an optimist who is willing to see paths to best-case scenarios until they’re fully closed. And when it comes to Jaylon Johnson’s future with the Chicago Bears, the cornerback’s comments have me believing that the path to an extension is opening again. At a minimum, this is a positive sign compared to where we were when the dust settled after the NFL Trade Deadline. Frankly, I’m at a point of the year where I’ll take whatever positive signs that come my way.
