The Chicago Bears signed cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76 million franchise-tag contract extension, with $51.4 million guaranteed in 2024.
Johnson, when healthy, has become one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He's been selected to the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2024 after 18 pass deflections and six interceptions in those years.
Many have wondered whether it was a good move for the Bears, but the way cornerbacks are getting paid these days, it's starting to look really good. Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie was given a new four-year, $124 million contract, making his contract the biggest among cornerbacks in NFL history, averaging $31 million per year.
Bears looking smart with Johnson contract with Trent McDuffie's big payday
Last season was an outlier since Johnson played in just seven games with his groin injury, but he was one of the top five cornerbacks in the previous two seasons. Through his first seasons in the NFL, he allowed less than a 60% completion percentage with eight career interceptions to his stat line.
Johnson has two more years left on his contract, with a cap hit of $25 million in 2026 and 2027. His contract ranks 13th highest in the NFL, with an average of $19 million per season.
2026 appears to be a bounce-back season for Johnson after he and Kyler Gordon missed significant time with injuries, and the Bears struggled in the secondary. Nahshon Wright is a free agent, so more will be put on Johnson and Gordon to get back to the way they played in 2023 and 2024 for the Bears.
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Johnson is in for what could be an important season with the Bears, but credit to general manager Ryan Poles for getting that contract extension signed at a good time.