Every cornerback drafted ahead of Jaylon Johnson in 2020 NFL Draft
By Ryan Heckman
![Chicago Bears, Jaylon Johnson Chicago Bears, Jaylon Johnson](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4479,h_2519,x_0,y_185/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/60/01j4m76ryfhjaqa7fabj.jpg)
Back when the Chicago Bears entered the 2020 NFL Draft, they were without a first-round pick thanks to the Khalil Mack trade. But, they did have a pair of second rounders, which they wound up using on a couple of franchise cornerstones in tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Fast forward to present day, and both Kmet and Johnson have been extended on larger contracts. Johnson, specifically, is coming off his best season yet, as a pro. It was a season that saw him earn All Pro Second Team honors along with his first career Pro Bowl.
Johnson even finished as the no. 1 graded cornerback on the season via Pro Football Focus and allowed an opposing quarterback rating of just 33.3. It was a monstrous season for one of the league's best defensive players.
Looking back, the value in picking Johnson is astronomical. Selecting him no. 50 overall, Chicago didn't know it at the time, but they were building that secondary by snagging a player who would go on to become one of the NFL's top lockdown corners.
Before we dive into all of the cornerbacks taken before Johnson back in that draft, let's check out some quick stats and we'll use them to compare to his peers, among other factoids.
Games started: 53
Interceptions: 5
Pass breakups: 41
Career accolades: All Pro 2nd Team in 2023, Pro Bowl in 2023
Every cornerback picked before the Chicago Bears selected Jaylon Johnson in the 2020 NFL Draft
1. Jeff Okudah, Lions (No. 3 overall)
Games started: 31
Interceptions: 2
Pass breakups: 13
Career accolades: None
The third overall pick in the 2020 class, former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah, is now on his third team. Okudah is currently trying to get his career off the ground and prove he doesn't deserve the "bust" label.
2. C.J. Henderson, Jaguars (No. 9 overall)
Games started: 32
Interceptions: 3
Pass breakups: 16
Career accolades: None
Like Okudah, C.J. Henderson was a top-10 pick and is also now on his third team in the league. Henderson has been good in spurts, but consistency has not been there. It isn't any wonder why he has yet to get any national attention in terms of accolades.
3. A.J. Terrell, Falcons (No. 16 overall)
Games started: 61
Interceptions: 4
Pass breakups: 43
Career accolades: All Pro 2nd Team in 2021
The only cornerback selected ahead of Johnson to really make something of his career, thus far, has been A.J. Terrell, and he's played with a mostly-mediocre Falcons defense that should be much better in the future. Terrell has been one of the few bright spots on Atlanta's defense and is the only one on this list to also hold an All Pro honor.
4. Damon Arnette, Raiders (No. 19 overall)
Games started: 7
Interceptions: 0
Pass breakups: 3
Career accolades: None
Damon Arnette's career officially ended in January of 2022 when he was arrested for charges of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances. This was his second similar instance, as a pro, after the Raiders released him following the viewing of a video which showed Arnette making death threats and showing off firearms.
5. Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins (No. 30 overall)
Games started: 5
Interceptions: 1
Pass breakups: 5
Career accolades: None
Once again, we have a player who was not only drafted ahead of Johnson, in the first round, but a player who is also on his third team in the NFL. Noah Igbinoghene has yet to make an impact as a pro and is dangerously close to being relegated as a bust.
6. Jeff Gladney, Vikings (No. 31 overall)
Out of respect for Jeff Gladney's family, friends and other loved ones, we won't go into many details or stats, here. Gladney and his girlfriend tragically passed on May 30, 2022 when they were involved in a car crash. Gladney played his college ball at TCU and was on his second team, the Arizona Cardinals, when the accident occured.
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