Tag: Jaylon Johnson

Jaylon Johnson on Caleb Williams’ impending Bears arrival: ‘You’ve gotta prove yourself’

Jaylon Johnson is the latest Bears veteran chiming in on Caleb Williams’ impending arrival and how he needs to prove himself.

Caleb Williams has huge shoes to fill ahead of his impending arrival to the Chicago Bears.

Former Bears quarterback Justin Fields was talented, of course, but he was also beloved in the locker room. His teammates were quite vocal about wanting him to stay in Chicago. But, ultimately, it was general manager Ryan Poles’ call to trade Fields and essentially usher in the Williams era.

Receiver DJ Moore recently spoke about what Williams needs to do to earn respect from the locker room, cornerback Jaylon Johnson is the latest Bears veteran chiming in on Williams’ impending arrival and how he needs to prove himself.

“You just humble yourself coming into the building,” Johnson said on Up & Adams. “You can’t bring that Hollywood stuff into the building, especially with guys who have played the game at a high level for consecutive years in the league. Guys like myself, Tremaine (Edmunds), T.J. (Edwards), now Keenan Allen. We’re going to see through that. What you did in college, the Hollywood, nah, you’ve gotta prove yourself. Stuff like that doesn’t matter.”

While there’s been a lot of focus on Johnson’s remarks about “that Hollywood stuff,” he went on to explain the importance of getting to know Williams as a person and wanting him to be the best he can be.

“You gotta get to know him, too. I think it’s a fine line between trying to prove a point to him, but also getting to know him,” Johnson said. “Because, at the end of the day, we want him to be the absolute best he can be. That’s what we’re bringing him in for, to win games. I think truly just learning who he is as a person, learning him deeper than all the Hollywood stuff you see, but actually trying to learn and get to know him.

“And then knowing from there what pushes him. If it is trash talk, if trash talk makes him crumble, then I mean, I feel like we gotta push that button because people in the game, they’re gonna push that button. Depending on whatever it is that he needs to be pushed at, I feel like that’s our job and that’s our duty as his teammates to make him better to strengthen his weaknesses.”

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How Jaylon Johnson’s extension impacts Bears’ salary cap

The Bears signed star cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year contract extension. Here’s how it impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024.

The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on a long-term extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, locking down a key piece to the team’s ascending young defense.

Johnson signed a four-year, $76 million deal with $54 million guaranteed. 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 comes out to $19 million per year, which is slightly under the $19.8 million he would’ve received on the franchise tag. It’s a huge deal for the Bears, who locked down their star cornerback even with the salary cap increasing substantially this offseason.

So how does that impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024?

Factoring in Johnson’s $19 million cap hit in 2024 — which is $800,000 less than what he would’ve played on the franchise tag — the Bears are slated to have $57.26 million in salary cap space, sixth most in the NFL. That’s still plenty for general manager Ryan Poles as he looks to address some key positions in free agency.

Johnson, 24, 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.

Bears sign CB Jaylon Johnson to 4-year contract extension

The Bears have locked down Jaylon Johnson to a long-term deal keeping the Pro Bowl cornerback in Chicago.

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.

How Jaylon Johnson’s franchise tag impacts Bears’ 2024 salary cap

The Bears are placing the franchise tag on Jaylon Johnson. Here’s how it impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024.

The Chicago Bears are placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on star cornerback Jaylon Johnson, according to various NFL insiders.

The move comes after the Bears and Johnson failed to reach an agreement on a long-term deal, although discussions remain ongoing with the goal of an extension.

If both sides can’t come to an agreement on a long-term extension by July 15, Johnson will play out the 2024 season on the franchise tag, which would pay him $19.8 million.

So how would that impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024?

Factoring in Johnson’s $19.8 million cap hit, the Bears currently have $56.46 million in salary cap space, seventh most in the NFL. That’s still plenty for general manager Ryan Poles as he looks to address some key positions in free agency.

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.

Bears place franchise tag on CB Jaylon Johnson

The Bears have placed the franchise tag on All-Pro CB Jaylon Johnson as the sides haven’t yet agreed to a long-term deal.

The Chicago Bears are set to place the franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson, tying him to the team through the 2024 season, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

General manager Ryan Poles had been hopeful to sign Johnson to a long-term deal, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement prior to the tag deadline of March 5. Johnson will make $19.8 million if he plays the season on the tag.

Jones notes the Bears are continuing to work on a long-term extension, which he noted could still happen before the start of new league year next week.

According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, it’s a non-exclusive tag for Johnson. With a non-exclusive tag, the most commonly used, other teams can negotiate with Johnson, but the Bears have the right to match any offer. If they don’t, they would get two first-round picks.

Retaining Johnson was a priority for the Bears after he produced a career year in 2023. Johnson totaled four interceptions and 10 pass breakups while allowing an opposing passer rating of just 50.9. He was consistently one of the top cornerbacks according to PFF and was named to his first Pro Bowl and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. All of this was accomplished while navigating through a season that contained trade rumors and even a request.

Ultimately, Johnson never went anywhere and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. The two sides have until July to hammer out a long-term contract, which Poles has indicated is his preference. Otherwise, Johnson will play the 2024 season on the franchise tag.

Franchise tag deadline: Will the Bears use it on Jaylon Johnson?

The franchise tag deadline is today, where we’ll see whether the Bears tag Jaylon Johnson or agree to a long-term deal.

The NFL’s franchise tag window officially closes Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT, where the Chicago Bears have to decide whether to use the tag on star cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Johnson is coming off a career season and his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. He established himself as one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks, totaling a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Johnson isn’t going anywhere in 2024. Essentially, that means Chicago is aiming to sign him to a long-term deal with the flexibility of the franchise tag to allow for additional negotiation time.

Last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles told reporters they were in the process of getting a contract extension done for Johnson, where conversations were going well and he sounded optimistic about getting a deal in place.

Teams that utilize a tag have until mid-July to work out a long-term deal with a player. If there is no deal agreed upon, the player will play out the 2024 season on that one-year tag.

For Johnson, the franchise tag would pay him $19.8 million, the average of the top five salaries at his position.

At this point, the expectation is the Bears will use the franchise tag on Johnson to further negotiations with the hope of getting a long-term deal done. We’ll see if Chicago can manage to get a deal done before the 3 p.m. CT deadline.

1 pending free agent the Colts could target from each NFC team

Taking a look at one pending free agent for the Colts from each NFC team.

With free agency right around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts have the chance to make some key additions to a roster that already has some promise.

Working with some of the most salary-cap space in the NFL this offseason, general manager Chris Ballard and the front office can continue to add pieces to the defensive side of the ball while improving the supporting cast for quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Re-signing some of their own players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II will be key. But they also could look around the conference to bring in some outside talent.

We know Ballard isn’t one to make huge splashes in free agency, but they are still going to be an active team even if it means simply adding depth.

Here’s a look at one pending free agent from each NFC team that should interest the Colts:

What Bears CB Jaylon Johnson would make on the franchise tag in 2024

If the Bears use the franchise tag on CB Jaylon Johnson, we now know how much he’d make on the tag in 2024.

Free agency is just around the corner, where the Chicago Bears have some important decisions to make as they build their roster.

That includes determining the fate of one of their own in cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who’s set to hit the open market following a career year in 2023. Johnson and the Bears have been working toward a long-term contract extension, but it seems as if the two sides are still far apart on the terms.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Johnson isn’t going anywhere, which means he’s confident in the two sides agreeing to a long-term extension or having the franchise tag as insurance.

Teams that utilize a tag have until mid-July to work out a long-term deal with a player. If there is no deal agreed upon, the player will play out the 2024 season on that one-year tag.

For Johnson, the franchise tag would pay him the average of the top five salaries at his position. With the 2024 salary cap now set at $255.4 million, the franchise and transition tag numbers for the upcoming season have also been finalized.

If the Bears do in fact use the franchise tag on Johnson — and fail to come to a long-term agreement by the deadline — then the tag would pay him $19.8 million in 2024.

The hope remains that Johnson and the Bears are able to work out a long-term deal. But the franchise tag remains an option for Poles.

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ESPN names best free agent fits for the Bears

The Bears are expected to be active in free agency addressing some big needs. ESPN pinpointed some best fits for Chicago.

NFL free agency is just around the corner, where the Chicago Bears will look to address some important roster needs.

General manager Ryan Poles has some big decisions to make this offseason, starting in free agency, where he has $67 million in salary cap space (third most in the league) to address positions of need, including edge rusher, center, safety, wide receiver and tight end.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently examined the best fits for the league’s top free agents, and there were a couple of notable names he linked to the Bears.

The most obvious is cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who’s coming off a career season with Chicago where he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. Poles has made it clear Johnson, 24, isn’t going anywhere — whether that’s agreeing to a long-term extension or using the franchise tag as insurance.

I like Johnson staying in Chicago as the Bears’ No. 1 corner, with the coverage traits, backfield vision and ball skills to produce once again. He posted a career-high four interceptions last season for a Bears defense that finished with 22 picks, tied for most in the NFL. I see Johnson signing a multiyear contract as a pivotal player in coach Matt Eberflus’ scheme.

While Kyler Gordon and rookie Tyrique Stevenson had solid seasons, if the Bears were to lose Johnson it would leave a massive hole in the secondary. Johnson isn’t just Chicago’s best cornerback, he’s one of the best in the entire league.

Outside of Chicago, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard was dubbed a good fit for Matt Eberflus’ defense. Greenard, 26, is coming off a big year with the Houston Texans, where he totaled 12.5 sacks and thrived as a pass rusher and run stopper.

General manager Ryan Poles made the trade last season to acquire defensive end Montez Sweat, which changed the Bears’ defensive setup. Now Poles could add another edge defender in Greenard, who is explosive off the ball and makes plays late in the down with his fantastic effort level. Last season with the Texans, Greenard had 12.5 sacks and a 22% pass rush win rate (sixth in the league). And his instincts show up as a run defender, too.

While Montez Sweat has been dominant, the Bears need to find a complement for him. Adding Greenard would give Chicago a great 1-2 punch off the edge that would further elevate Eberflus’ defense as they look to become a top-10 unit.

The Bears are also expected to explore adding a veteran center and tight end depth behind Cole Kmet during free agency.

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Franchise tag window now open: Will Bears tag Jaylon Johnson?

The franchise tag window is officially open, and all eyes are on the Bears and whether they tag star CB Jaylon Johnson.

The NFL’s franchise/transition tag window officially opens Tuesday.

It marks the first day NFL teams can place the franchise or transition tag on players with expiring contracts. The last day to place a tag on a player is March 5 at 3 p.m. CT, which is about a week before the start of free agency.

The Chicago Bears have an obvious franchise tag candidate in cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who’s coming off a career season and his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. He established himself as one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks, totaling a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Johnson isn’t going anywhere in 2024. Essentially, that means Chicago is aiming to sign him to a long-term deal with the flexibility of the franchise tag to allow for additional negotiation time.

Teams that utilize a tag have until mid-July to work out a long-term deal with a player. If there is no deal agreed upon, the player will play out the 2024 season on that one-year tag.

For Johnson, the franchise tag would pay him the average of the top five salaries at his position, projected to be in the $18.41 million range according to Over The Cap.

The hope is Johnson and the Bears are able to work out a long-term deal sooner than later. Whether that requires the franchise tag remains to be seen.

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