5 salary cap decisions Chicago Bears will have to make in 2024
By Ryan Heckman
How much do the Bears pay Jaylon Johnson?
I think we're at the point where we know the Bears are going to re-sign cornerback Jaylon Johnson. It is no longer a matter of "if" they bring him back. Now, it's a matter of just how much Chicago is going to spend.
Johnson said a few weeks back that his goal is to be the highest-paid cornerback in football, but what would that look like?
Let's take a look around the league and a bit inside the top-10 cornerback contracts at the moment.
Top Cornerback Contracts by Annual Average Value:
1. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay: $21 million
2. Denzel Ward, Cleveland: $20.1 million
3. Jalen Ramsey, Miami: $20 million
8. Tre'Davious White, Buffalo: $17.25 million
10. Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay: $14.83 million
As it stands, Chicago could afford to pay Johnson just like his division rival in Green Bay. But, another way to look at it is this: if the Bears move on from Whitehair and Jackson, there's your Jaylon Johnson contract right there. That savings is enough to make him the highest-paid corner in the league.
The Bears will already be thinking they'll part ways with those two players, so this is a great way to look at it. Cut Whitehair and Jackson. Give Johnson the money he wants (and deserves). Johnson played like the NFL's top cornerback last season, so I don't see a reason why the Bears don't make it happen.