Bears sign cornerback Jaylon Johnson to four-year, $76million deal… and are still armed with $56million in cap space and No. 1 pick in NFL Draft!
- The Bears and Jaylon Johnson have reached a long-term pact
- The young cornerback was a Pro Bowler in the 2023 season
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The Bears have made their first big jump of the offseason as they agreed to a four-year, $76 million deal with cornerback Jaylon Johnson, according to multiple reports.
The deal gives Johnson – a second-team All-Pro in 2023 – an average salary of $19 million, including $54.4 million guaranteed.
Just two days ago, the Bears used the franchise tag on Johnson, which would guarantee an annual salary of $19.8 million.
Only two cornerbacks average salaries higher than the franchise rate: Jaire Alexander of the Packers averages $21 million and Denzel Ward of the Browns $20.1 million.
Johnson, a second-round pick in 2020, was the highest-rated cornerback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus in 2023, allowing a passer rating of 33.3 in more than 500 coverage snaps.
Jaylon Johnson has signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Bears, according to reports
Johnson will attend the 12th annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall on February 9, 2023
And the Bears will look to improve their roster even further under GM Ryan Poles, as the team still has about $56 million in cap space, according to the numbers. Spotrac.
Chicago also owns the No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL Draft, which it could use to draft former USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
While there was previously speculation that Chicago could trade the pick-and-stick with current quarterback Justin Fields, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported last month that it would take a “historic amount of draft picks and overall compensation” to land the pick.
The Bears missed the playoffs last year, but showed signs of life in the second half of the season as they finished 7-10 and went 3-2 after their bye week.
However, Chicago will pick first after acquiring Carolina’s 2024 first-round pick in a blockbuster trade for receiver DJ Moore last year in which they gave up the 2023 No. 1 pick. The Panthers struggled under starting quarterback Bryce Young and went an NFL-worst 2-15 in 2023.A
The Bears are also projected to pick ninth overall in this year’s draft, and could continue to grow their offense after finishing 18th (out of 32 teams) in points per game.