The Chicago Bears have signed cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a mega contract extension that makes him one of the highest paid players at his position. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz was first to report the news.
It’s a four-year deal worth $76 million with $54.4 million guaranteed, per Schultz. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, $43.8 million of it is guaranteed at signing with $28 million guaranteed in the first year. Johnson will make $60 million in the first three years of the deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
That’s $19 million per year, which is slightly under the $19.8 million he would’ve received on the franchise tag.
Johnson, a former second-round pick in 2020, is coming off a career year with Chicago, where he set a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games while also emerging as a top cover cornerback in the NFL. Johnson earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods for his impressive 2023 campaign.
Re-signing Johnson was a priority for general manager Ryan Poles this offseason. Johnson was a key component of the success of Chicago’s defense down the stretch and among the team’s best and most important players.
Back at the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles told reporters the organization was in the process of getting a contract extension done for Johnson, where conversations were going well are there was optimism about getting a new deal done. Poles also made it clear he didn’t want to utilize the franchise tag, although that’s what ended up happening earlier this week. But it took all of two days to get an agreement done.
With Johnson locked down through 2027, the Bears have a special cornerback group that also features Kyler Gordon, Chicago’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in Tyrique Stevenson and another standout rookie in Terell Smith.