When asking the question of who the best defender for the Chicago Bears has been so far this season, there are a number of candidates. Robert Quinn is in the midst of a career renaissance with four sacks in his first three games. Roquan Smith is 8th in the NFL in tackles and has a pick-six and a sack as well. Yet nobody would argue that the best of the bunch has probably been Jaylon Johnson, their second-year cornerback.

He wasted no time emerging on the scene last year, producing a standout rookie season with 15 passes defended in 13 games. Now he already has five so far in 2021 and an interception to go along with it. Quarterbacks have an ugly 29.6 passer rating when throwing in his direction. He has been nothing short of fantastic. Easily one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

At least according to the media.

In his own mind? Johnson thinks he can do a lot better. The 22-year old made it clear he isn’t happy with his play thus far. Why? Namely, because he hasn’t come down with more interceptions despite getting his hands on the football a few times. This should offer people an idea of just how obsessed Johnson is. Not with being good. Oh no. His mission is to be great. One of the best in the NFL. This quote in an interview with Pro Football Focus proves it.

“When you make it to the NFL, you’re considered one of the best in the world, but I don’t just want to be the best among that big group,” Johnson said. “I want to be the best among the top guys, among the more recognized, the guys that have been doing it the longest. I want to be up there with those names, the Jalen Ramseys, the Stephon Gilmores, the Tre’(Davious) Whites, the Marlon Humphreys. I want to be that Jaylon Johnson. Even if I’m not there, I’m going to keep fighting, keep scratching to get to that top list. When I do get there, I just want to maintain that.”

How can you not get fired up reading something like that? This offers a perfect window into the mind of potential greatness. Talk to any Hall of Fame player going back decades in this sport. There is a good chance most of them sounded like this. Johnson isn’t content with being good as so many are. He wants the crown of top dog and is willing to make any sacrifice necessary to achieve that goal.

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Jaylon Johnson will carry the banner forward

Great defense is an ongoing legacy in Chicago. It’s ingrained in the psyche of every Bears fan. They’ve all grown up with that side of the ball oozing excellence. So standards are always high. Johnson has quite a legacy to live up to. The Bears went from Charles Tillman to Kyle Fuller in an unbroken streak between 2003 and 2020. It appears he is well-positioned to carry that banner forward.

It will certainly make life easier as the defense begins its inevitable transition. A lot of key players are getting older. It won’t be much longer before they’re out of the picture. That means the next generation will have to step up. Smith is already a fixture in that group. Jaylon Johnson looks like the next one to slot into place. Will Bilal Nichols join them as well?

He is certainly aiming to try.

One thing is for sure. If Johnson continues on this trajectory? He has a chance to challenge Tillman as the best cornerback in Bears history. As he said though, he’ll have to start piling up those takeaways. Meanwhile, the team should probably start calculating the huge money they’ll have to pay him in a couple of years.