Talks On-Going with Bears Cornerback
The Bears haven't given up hope of getting a new contract for cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
They're just making sure they have the chance to do it.
The Bears placed the franchise tag on their fifth-year cornerback even while continuing to negotiate.
The tag amount for Johnson next season is $19.8 million.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the talks will continue and it could mean they are not far apart. ESPN reported the tag is non-exclusive, which means if free agency begins and there is no deal in place, other teams would be able to negotiate with him. However, the Bears would be able to match it and will receive two first-round draft picks if they chose not to match an offer.
Johnson has until July 15 to sign the franchise tag.
Johnson was regarded by Pro Football Focus as the best cornerback in football last year. They gave him a 90.8 grade on their grading scale. No other cornerback went over the 89.5 they gave to Dallas' DaRon Bland. Johnson's 91.0 was one of only two cornerbacks with pass coverage grades over 90. Sauce Gardner was at 90.8.
Johnson has five career interceptions in four seasons, four coming last year when he posted a career-best passer rating against when targeted of 50.9, per Sportradar. He allowed a career-best 55.2% completions on targets.
"I'm so proud of Jaylon the way he improved in the way he took the challenge to be a ball guy and he certainly did that," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said at the combine. "He's a great leader not only in our defensive back room but in our whole defensive room too."
By "ball guy," Eberflus meant the skill of tracking the ball for interceptions more than tracking receivers. Much of Johnson's tracking of receivers had to do with the habit past defensive coordinators had of using him in one-on-one coverage against the opponent's best receiver. The goal became preventing the catch or preventing the throw, but not so much being able to get the pick.
The Bears want cornerbacks playing more zone and facing the quarterback to make plays on the football and they perceive Johnson made the switch.
Whether it's holding up the talks or not, it is true Johnson hasn't had a career with great durability. Because of injuries, he missed three games in 2020 and also the only playoff game the Bears have qualified for since he was drafted in Round 2 in 2020. A shoulder injury kept him out of those games.
He missed two games in 2021, six in 2022 and three last season. His career-high for games played is 15.
Also, three of Johnson's interceptions came against backup quarterbacks. He has 41 career pass defenses, including 10 last year.
Free agency begins Monday at 11 a.m. with the two-day negotiating period. Contracts and all trades can be finalized beginning at 3 p.m. on March 13, when the new league year begins.
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