With the No. 1 decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have the possibility to pick out their new franchise quarterback (e.g. USC’s Caleb Williams), however cornerback Jaylon Johnson would not wish to hear it.
Chicago’s star cornerback defined to FOX Sports activities’ Keyshawn Johnson on the inaugural episode of “All Info No Brakes” that he desires the franchise to stay with quarterback Justin Fields.
“It is robust for me and him having totally different coordinators, totally different coaches, totally different regimes come out and in, and I believe it is arduous to really regulate as a younger quarterback with the ability to do this. I undoubtedly, for me, can see the expertise that he has in observe, the throws that he could make, the accuracy, however I believe you’ll be able to undoubtedly inform when he is assured and when he isn’t assured, when he is settled in a pocket and when he isn’t,” Johnson mentioned about Fields. “He simply sort of seems to be, I really feel like, quite a bit totally different.
“I believe simply getting into and saying ‘oh, we’ll simply eliminate him, he isn’t the reply,’ I do not suppose that is it. I believe it is sort of taking the simple approach out and making the coaches not take accountability, as a result of I believe the coaches have a giant half in creating the quarterback. I believe that he hasn’t had a possibility to really be developed but, now occurring his third coordinator in his fourth 12 months.
“It is concerning the individuals round him. I believe it begins with the quarterback coach, it begins with the offensive coordinator, the instructing and molding and constructing him into being that quarterback … should you get some dawgs round him, some O-line that may constantly maintain up, I believe a very good working sport, receivers, we bought D.J. [Moore] and we have been constructing some good issues I believe on offense, however we undoubtedly want extra I really feel like so far as playmakers and guys to place him in one of the best place.”
Keyshawn & Bears All-Professional Jaylon Johnson on Justin Fields, Cowboys Collapse & Lions
Chicago is coming off a 7-10 season that noticed it expertise a four-game leap from 2022.
Throughout the 13 begins that Fields made this season (Fields missed 4 video games on account of a thumb harm), he totaled 2,562 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions and an 86.3 passer ranking, whereas finishing 61.4 p.c of his passes. He additionally rushed for 657 yards and 4 touchdowns.
As a complete, Chicago averaged 182.1 passing yards (twenty seventh in NFL), 141.1 dashing yards (second), 323.2 whole yards (twentieth) and 21.2 factors (18th) per sport.
Relating to Johnson’s word about teaching turnover, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will return for a 3rd season, however offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko have been let go. In different phrases, Fields can have a 3rd offensive coordinator if Chicago retains him for 2024; Invoice Lazor was Fields’ offensive coordinator for his rookie season (2021) beneath head coach Matt Nagy.
All that mentioned, Colin Cowherd is not offered on Fields — who sports activities a profession 10-28 report — being the workforce’s long-term reply at quarterback.
“Thus far, Justin Fields’ profession is like Desmond Ridder; they’ve the identical passer ranking. The truth is, Desmond Ridder’s received extra video games,” Cowherd mentioned on Wednesday’s version of “The Herd.” “In case you might get a second-round decide for Justin Fields — neglect a primary, that is not occurring — should you’re Chicago, you name a workforce and Atlanta says ‘we’ll take a second,’ you actually concurrently preserve them on the cellphone and name the league workplace to get approval for the commerce.”
Is Justin Fields value a first-rounder?
In the meantime, Johnson is coming off arguably one of the best season of his four-year NFL profession. Throughout the 14 video games that Johnson appeared in, he totaled a career-high 4 interceptions — together with one pick-six — and 10 passes defended. Moreover, he earned his first Professional Bowl nod.
As for Johnson’s future, the cornerback is ready to hit free company. In Johnson’s eyes, he is worthy of being the very best paid cornerback within the sport.
“I will go in, and the ball is absolutely in my court docket,” Johnson mentioned of his impending free company. “I am simply going to proceed to attend for them [the Bears] after which we’re gonna attain and are available to phrases on it, and, hopefully, it is what I believe I am deserving of.”
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Chicago Bears
Jaylon Johnson
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