Is this Chicago Bears defender underrated?

The Chicago Bears are looking for building blocks on the defense. While Jaylon Johnson was not brought in by Ryan Poles, he may be one of the few Ryan Pace leftovers who stays with his team. Johnson has been up and down at moments but overall has been good.

In fact, it can easily be argued that Johnson is being underrated a touch

Are  Chicago Bears fans underrating Jaylon Johnson?

This season Jaylon Johnson has allowed 20 receptions for 293 yards on 33 targets. His passer rating allowed is down to 99, after being 107, and 103 the past two seasons. Still, you could argue that his performance has been even better.

Jaylon Johnson struggles in the slot and has rarely been asked to play there. He has just 23 slot snaps and just nine snaps in coverage in the slot. However, on those nine snaps, he has allowed 103 yards.

It is obvious to say that on a snap-by-snap basis Jaylon Johnson is the worst slot defender in the NFL. When the Chicago Bears do not ask him to play the slot, he is one of the best defenders in the NFL.

When you take out those nine snaps, he is allowing 0.62 yards per snap, per PFF. That would put him fourth in the NFL with Jaycee Horn, Sauce Gardner, and James Bradberry. These are some of the biggest names at cornerback in the NFL right now.

While it is fair that you could eliminate the nine worst snaps by any corner, and they would all improve dramatically, this one is definitely more on the coaching staff asking Johnson to do too much.

The Panthers do move Horn around, but Gardner and Bradberry play sides, just like Johnson usually does. Gardner has seven slot snaps, and Bradberry has zero. If the Chicago Bears just used Johnson like these two, he may be right with them as the best in the NFL.

One last factor is that Johnson slightly benefits from the players around him. The team is so weak opposite of Johnson that quarterbacks are much more tempted to avoid him altogether. It may be less about him and more about the others.

You cannot say that for Bradberry, who has Darius Slay across from him, and Gardner, who has D.J. Reed across from him.

This can be highlighted by yards per target. At 6.9, Jaylon Johnson is below Bradberry at 4, and Gardner at 4.4. Still, in this area, he is around the top 20.

Jaylon Johnson is not a top-five cornerback in the NFL. although one small stat could make that argument. Still, the fact that there is even an argument for it should show fans that Johnson has had. a good season.

He has to stick to his side and is better in zone, but most cornerbacks have their preference. Johnson is a lower-end number cornerback and would be a high-end number two cornerback for any team. That is how the Chicago Bears should view him.