The Chicago Bears face a critical decision regarding one of their defensive stars this offseason. If Ryan Poles can’t re-sign Jaylon Johnson, there could be a big hole in the secondary. The Bears could also elect to use the franchise tag on the 24-year-old out of Utah if they can’t agree to a long-term deal.
Poles insisted that the Bears will retain Johnson, implying that agreeing on a long-term contract is the goal. But negotiations can get messy and rifts can arise, as we’ve seen with the likes of Roquan Smith. If the Bears hit snags in contract talks with Johnson this offseason, there could be serious consequences to follow.
3 Reasons to Sign Jaylon Johnson Long Term
1. Confidence
Poles has already publicly stated that the Bears plan to keep Johnson in the building. That’s great — as long as he keeps his word. But this is a delicate situation and should be treated with caution.
Johnson had a breakout season in 2023. He secured a career-high four interceptions, defended 10 passes, only allowed a 33.3 passer rating and 195 receiving yards against, and was PFF’s best coverage defender with a 90.8 grade. Those accolades resulted in a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors. The confidence he built up by having a truly elite season is important for a potential future cornerstone of a defense.
Johnson has the potential to be a game-wrecker. If the Bears can’t lock him up for the foreseeable future, it could hinder his confidence. With a “prove it” chip on his shoulder heading into the 2024 season, he could overdo it and end up hurting his chances at a structured contract.
The last thing the Bears need is for their best cornerback to begin a season with doubts about his future with the franchise.
2. Money
The Bears are 31st in funds allocated to cornerbacks alone heading into the offseason. They have four players under contract at the position, costing them a hair under $6 million.
Johnson’s estimated value, according to Spotrac, is around $15.7 million per year. Over five years, that would be close to $80 million.
Compare that to the likes of Cleveland’s Denzel Ward. He’s currently on a five-year contract worth over $100 million, or $20 million per year. Ward has 15 interceptions in six seasons and a handful of fumble recoveries. He’s an elite cornerback who’s made three Pro Bowls and earned his payday.
Those kinds of numbers aren’t unattainable for Johnson. He certainly has the potential to display that kind of elite play every Sunday.
But things get tricky when it comes to contract figures. Is Johnson worth $20 million per year? Possibly, but the real question is what he believes his value is.
If Johnson truly feels that his value is north of $20 million, the franchise tag worth around $15 million could be a slap in the face. The Bears have roughly $49 million in salary cap space to work with, so signing Johnson to a team-friendly deal in the range of $13-15 million over five years could be a bigger “bang for their buck” than a one-year hit of nearly $16 million.
After Johnson stated in December that “Money is still good” regarding the possibility of a franchise tag, it’s not outside the realm of possibility for him to take the team-friendly deal and stay in place.
3. Image
What kind of message does the franchise tag send to players not only in-house but also potential free agents outside of Halas Hall? Johnson is a star player in the making and how the Bears treat him will be viewed by the entire NFL.
What superstar free agent would come to Chicago knowing the front office didn’t value high-caliber players like other franchises do? Probably not many. And those who do won’t stay very long — just look at the Chicago Bulls spending the last decade-plus in purgatory.
Players respond to respect, especially in the NFL where big personalities can clash with high-functioning franchises. If Poles and the Bears respect Johnson and plan to pay him accordingly, other players will take notice.
Doing so would give the Bears the image of being player-friendly while also taking the right initiative to win football games. It could be the most crucial part of this offseason, and it’s a delicate situation to balance.
Conclusion: Chicago Needs Jaylon Johnson
The Bears need to make re-signing Jaylon Johnson a priority. After his elite 2023 season, Johnson deserves his payday and the security that comes with it.
If the Bears can sign Johnson to a deal that benefits both sides, then other funds can be allocated for additional resources. This in turn makes the Bears better.
Finding the other pieces to make this puzzle fit would be the next step, and that’s easier to do if the cornerback position is one the Bears’ brass doesn’t need to worry about.
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