Chicago Bears Jaylon Johnson had himself a career day on Sunday. Could it be a precursor to a multiyear contract extension with the team?
Johnson is coming off a two-interception performance in the team’s 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the first of which was returned for a touchdown, where he promptly did a money celebration in the end zone. That was a clear sign of his desire to get paid, and during his weekly appearance on 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel show on Monday, he let it be known he and the Bears are talking about a possible deal.
“It’s a process, but things are, I would say, starting to hopefully ramp up,” Johnson told the hosts. “We’ll see kind of where things go, especially in this next week and a half before this trade deadline.” When host Danny Parkins asked Johnson directly if his representatives were in contract negotiations with the Bears, the cornerback said yes.
#Bears CB Jaylon Johnson just told @ParkinsSpiegel that his representatives are working with the Bears on a potential contract extension.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 23, 2023
Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and is arguably the team’s most coveted impending free agent. He’s one of the better cover corners in the league, but was knocked for not creating enough turnovers throughout his career. Those criticisms were answered on Sunday, and while it likely didn’t spur any contract negotiations, it was a reminder of Johnson’s abilities and why he deserves to remain with the Bears for the foreseeable future.
There’s a chance the Bears decide to part ways with Johnson at the trade deadline, but by most accounts, it seems general manager Ryan Poles is wanting to hold onto the 24-year-old defensive back. Johnson did mention the franchise tag as a possibility this spring in his interview as well, but perhaps a contract extension happens sooner rather than later.