What Jaylon Johnson Wants from Football

Cole Kmet got his contract extension the Bears.

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs reeled in a five-year, $97 million whopper of a deal from the Dallas Cowboys.

So is it Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson's turn to get a payday?

"We all know what you all are going to ask me about," Johnson said, joking Friday with the media at Day 3 of Bears practices. "But honestly, there really isn't too much I can really speak on.

"I'm in a good position and whatever will happen, God willing, I can be a Chicago Bear and we figure out a deal to get something done here because that's what I want to do but we'll see what happens at the end of the day."

Lockdown Cornerback by Any Other Name

Johnson still is vital to Bears defensive fortunes after the team drafted second-round cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and fifth-round cornerback Terell Smith. Both players have had extensive looks the last three days in practices with the first-team defense, but it was at the left cornerback spot and not Johnson's.

Johnson remains the Bears' lockdown cornerback who can go all over the field against teams' top receivers.

Kmet getting $50 million for four years isn't necessarily something that stoked Johnson to make demands for his money.

"I mean, I wouldn't say 'this,' but I mean I feel like everbody knows they're looking to extend certain players, looking to extend me, of course Cole, and things like that. I feel like it's just something that you just wait your turn.

"Everybody's situation is different too. Cole and his situation isn't necessarily my situation. Whatever my numbers are are going to be my numbers, so I mean I'm not looking, 'OK, Cole's money is going to be my money.' Nah. I don't look at it like that. Definitely just something I am looking forward to seeing where it goes."

Same holds true for the $97 million deal Johnson saw cornerback Trevon Diggs get over five years from the Dallas Cowboys.

The Bears had the chance to draft Diggs in the second round in 2022. In three years he has 17 interceptions and a forced fumble. Johnson was taken 50th, one spot ahead of Diggs. He has one interception and 11 games missed due to injuries, but he has been the best Bears cornerback on the roster. He is moved all over the field to cover the opposition's best receiver, and is their version of a lockdown cornerback.

"We're in two totally different ballgames," Johnson said of Diggs. "He's an All-Pro, 15 ... 17 picks in three years. He's done some really good things. Hats off to him and congrats to him. I am definitely happy for him and for the cornerback market as well. So, definitely positive for the DBs as a whole."

The lack of interceptions by Johnson could be a negotiating point for the Bears if they wanted to use it. Johnson thinks he knows why it has happened only once for him in three seasons.

"I would say it's my style of ball, being in peoples' faces a lot of the time you don't get to see the ball coming too often," Johnson said. "A lot of times, too, I'm not getting gifts. I don't get the tipped passes that other people get, I don't get the underthrown balls—I don't get any of that.

"So it's a combination of some of the things that I do and sometimes you're just lucky. I haven't had that go my way too much. For me, I don't worry about that too much."

Anyone who thought Stevenson and Smith were drafted for leverage over Johnson on this extension probably doesn't know much about cornerback in the NFL. The two have a long way to go.

If Johnson was unhappy at all with his situation, he could easily have held out or held "in" the way Roquan Smith did. It would have cost him a lot of money at $40,000 a day but he could have tried to do it.

"The way I see it, I still got a lot to earn," Johnson said. "I feel like I still have a lot to prove. It's not like I'm just this person who has been first-team All-Pro three years in a row and don't have a contract.

"I've definitely got some more things to prove. I definitely gotta do my part better and I'm coming out here each and every day and work and whatever comes from that comes from that."

It was refreshing humility and Poles on Tuesday had talked about Johnson's positive attitude toward practice and camp as a good sign.

"I'd say like the relationship's good," Poles said. "He's out showing that he can perform at a high level and becoming the player that he wants to be and improve. So that's all I can really say about that."

Johnson isn't just practicing. He is practicing daily against the best receiver the Bears have and one of the better ones in the league in DJ Moore. The two get matched up numerous times a day in camp.

The Bears are finding it's not easy to stop Moore.

"I like it because I'm competitive and I like to think he's one of the better receivers in the league," Johnson said. "Just being able to go against a guy of that caliber each and every day, I try to get that matchup as much as I can. I like it. I enjoy it.

"It's something that I know I'm going to make him better and he's going to make me better as well, and he's a heck of a guy at the catch point and definitely will challenge and compete. I'm all for it."

No Backing Off on His Value

Johnson doesn't want to be confused with someone who is backing off on their own skills to be a team guy, someone who isn't interested in seeking out the cash.

"Don't get that twisted at all," he said. "I'm still gonna go out here and lock them cats up. No. Don't get my tone for that.

"But I do know I don't have the accolades. My accolades and my ability don't match up by any means. I definitely have All-Pro talent, for sure. I have Pro Bowl talent. I go out there and lock those guys up. So that's not where my confidence is at. I'm a reality guy and I can look on the All-Pro list, and I ain't on there. But I still believe in myself 100%."

The question is how much the Bears believe in him long term.

"I want the deal done as soon as possible, but I'm not gonna get caught up in it," Johnson said. "I want to win, and I know accolades come with winning. It's not too often you just go out here and don't win games and you get all those accolades.

"I'm really worried about winning and doing my part and playing at a high level, and I feel like everybody will reap the benefits from it."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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