The Chicago Bears 2020 draft class has a chance to be really good. Darnell Mooney broke the team record for rookie receptions last year and currently leads the team in receiving through the first two weeks. Over Allen Robinson. That is pretty impressive. Yet it is becoming clear that he might not be the best player in the class. That distinction belongs to cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Chicago snagged him in the 2nd round. Draft experts felt at the time they’d potentially gotten a steal. Johnson was a standout cover corner at Utah. Most believed the only reason he wasn’t a 1st round pick was due to some setbacks with shoulder injuries. Confirmation soon followed when he had 15 pass breakups as a rookie, two of which led to interceptions by teammates. It was evident right away the kid had game.
Now it appears he is taking it to the next level.
Through two weeks, Johnson has been targeted by opposing quarterbacks nine times. In that span, he has allowed just three catches for 22 yards. Included are five passes defended and an interception. The first of his career. That works out to a 2.8 passer rating. Insane. The 22-year old is considered among the top-ranked defenders in the NFL thus far, and people are taking notice. Including those who have played the position. Check out what former Baltimore Ravens standout Domonique Foxworth had to say about him.
https://twitter.com/Foxworth24/status/1441435278602866692
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He isn’t alone in his admiration either. Darius Butler is another former veteran who played a long time in the league. This included a six-year run with the Indianapolis Colts. It didn’t take much for him to understand that not only is Johnson talented, but also a student of the game.
Mannn this kid is SPECIAL! You can tell from his play he does his homework. That’s the read 90% of the time for the QB -> Curl route vs a CB opening up in single high coverage. Great technique and FINISH from @NBAxJay1
You know your work needs no checking Fox! 💯 https://t.co/k1H4I03Los
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) September 24, 2021
From the way they talk, it sounds like the Bears may not just have a good player. They might have a potential star.
Jaylon Johnson emerging is huge for the team’s future
The primary issue Chicago ran into back in the early 2010s when their defense got old was a lack of young talent ready to step up. As Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman, Julius Peppers, and Lance Briggs left? There was nobody waiting in the wings to fill those voids. Names like Stephen Paea, Shea McClellin, and Jonathan Bostic failed to live up to their high draft status. Those misses play a major role in the defense falling apart in 2013 and 2014.
This time around should be different. GM Ryan Pace has done a solid job reloading the pipeline as cornerstone names like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Danny Trevathan advance in age. Roquan Smith is already a Pro Bowler in all but name. Bilal Nichols had a career-high five sacks last season. Now Jaylon Johnson is ascending as well. That group could form the next nucleus of the Bears’ defense.
This is great news.
Especially since the franchise might finally have a quarterback they can build around. One complication teams always run into is not being able to pair a QB with a good defense at the same time. See Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. If Justin Fields proves to be legit, then there is a chance he’ll have a strong defense to lean on for years to come with Johnson, Smith, and others leading the way.