When the top potential offseason cut candidates for the Chicago Bears are talked about, those players also have some level of trade value that takes them off the table as a simple cut/cap casualty. A couple of those guys have a lot of trade value, and general manager Ryan Poles will surely pursue those ideas to their full extent in the effort to trim notable cap dollars.
The Bears will have some difficult decisions this offseason, with a free-agent class that includes notable names alongside the aforementioned cut or trade candidates. And, as always, surprises are in play even if a glance at the balance sheet doesn't easily reveal those possibilities.
Analyst offers an outside the box cut candidate for the Bears
Matt Okada of NFL.com has made a list of big-name cut candidates focused on NFC teams. A couple of the "usual suspects" on lists of cut candidates when it comes to the Bears made the list, tight end Cole Kmet and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, but Okada had a third that stretched beyond that low-hanging fruit.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
"Johnson played five solid years for the Bears, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2023 and 2024, before missing the majority of the 2025 campaign with a severe groin injury. He was largely considered a top-10 cornerback entering last season -- though his contract lands just outside that range, with his $19 million average annual value ranking 13th at the position.
"So, why is he a cut candidate? Well, there are surprising cuts every offseason, and they usually come down to money. Johnson carries a $24.5 million cap hit in 2026, and the Bears could save $15.5 million by designating him as a post-June 1 release (their most lucrative option for that designation). Also, Johnson’s 58.7 overall defensive grade from PFF ranked 64th out of 98 corners with 400+ snaps in 2025, and his 12.2 yards allowed per target was seventh-most among corners with 20+ targets. He is still young (27 years old in April), but Chicago could do a lot with that cap space if GM Ryan Poles decides Johnson’s not worth the price tag anymore."
Johnson tore an adductor muscle off his pelvic bone in July. He missed Week 1 last season, then he aggravated his groin issue while breaking up a pass in Week 2. He did not play again until Week 13 after having core muscle surgery, and if the Bears hadn't been a playoff team, it's worth wondering if he would have returned to action.
"A severe groin injury" is a shallow label to describe what Johnson dealt with, and the dismal coverage numbers Okada noted come from the idea that he was likely never at full strength all season. Despite that, he played at least 61 percent of the defensive snaps in seven of eight games (including the playoffs) after returning to action, and more than 81 percent in each of the last three.
As Okada noted, if they're going to cut him, it'd be far more advantageous for the Bears to designate Johnson as a post-June 1 cut. It's worth noting that $7.6 million of his base salary for this year becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year.
Read more: Bears' most viable move to fill notable injury void keeps on revealing itself
We should never say never when it comes to what may happen in the NFL. But if the Bears are considering cutting Johnson, coming off an injury-diminished season, the plan to replace him better be pretty good.