Jaylon Johnson of the Bears talks about his upcoming free agency: Chicago in the heart, “absolutely on the money” in the thoughts……..
It was a smart move for the Chicago Bears to hold off on trading Jaylon Johnson until the deadline. In a month, when Johnson becomes a free agent, they hope their choice will pay off.
Johnson will explore his options as a free agency in March, but he had hoped for an extension with the Bears. A significant salary increase is on the horizon, so he hopes to play for the team he wants and earn the money he desires.
This weekend at the Pro Bowl, Johnson declared, “Heart’s definitely in Chicago, mind’s definitely on the money,” according to NFL.com. “Well, we’ll see if we can persuade them both to cooperate and complete a task. I’m excited to see what lies ahead.”
Based on a fantastic 2023 year in which he recorded a career-high four interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro, Johnson most definitely deserves a raise. As the primary defender, Johnson was the target of just one passing touchdown and 46.3% of the passes completed by opposing quarterbacks. In coverage, Johnson gave up just a 28.5 passer rating.
Johnson is going to be among the best cornerbacks available in free agency, of course. There is considerable possibility for negotiation because the Bears have $46.88 million in available salary cap space this offseason (per Over The Cap).
Johnson’s argument for more money is strengthened by the four interceptions and one forced fumble in 14 games—especially considering that he is only 24 years old and has plenty of football left in him.
“Probably the only thing I have [against me] was not getting turnovers,” Johnson stated. However, this year I began to experience some changes and creation. I’ve always thought of myself as a great cover person, so I simply wanted to be able to influence the game and make plays in the air.
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