Cole Kmet became the first player on GM Ryan Poles to earn a contract extension. It was a minor surprise since he was drafted by Ryan Pace. Until then, Poles had been unloading players from the previous regime at every opportunity. That included Roquan Smith. Kmet’s deal gave others on the roster hope that they could follow the same path. Seven games into the 2023 season, it’s looking like one of them has positioned himself to do exactly that: cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
His season didn’t start as planned. Despite playing solid coverage, he suffered an injury that cost him two games. Many were beginning to wonder if he was becoming injury-prone. This was on top of his ongoing inability to force turnovers. Everything changed on Sunday against Las Vegas, where he snagged two interceptions. The first he took back for a touchdown, sealing the victory for the Chicago Bears. His “Make It Rain” celebration in the end zone was an obvious indication he expects to get paid.
He spoke about the situation as it stands ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. Johnson is under no illusions. He knows there is a possibility he gets traded (the deadline is the 31st). However, he and the Bears have continued talking about an extension.
Jaylon Johnson isn’t offering discounts.
He believes himself to be one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. The coverage numbers have backed this up to a degree over the past year and a half. However, he didn’t have the production to reinforce it. That changed against the Raiders. Now, he has shown he can force turnovers. Reports from multiple outlets indicate the Bears have no interest in trading Johnson. It’s hard to find good cornerbacks in this league. He is still 24 years old. They have more than enough cap space to afford a significant extension.
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It is about finding a dollar amount both sides can be happy with. From the way Jaylon Johnson talks, he expects to sit among the top guys in the sport. Marshon Lattimore and Trevon Diggs both make $19.4 million per year. That goes up to Jaire Alexader at the top with $21 million. Is Poles willing to reach that pay range for Johnson? It is difficult to say. He may wish to settle closer to Xavien Howard and Tre’Davious White at $17-18 million. If Johnson decides to dig his heels in on a specific number, it could take time before a deal is reached.
