Bears maintain steady rebuilding effort by re-signing key CB Jaylon Johnson-ZoomTech News

The Chicago Bears have locked up yet one more defensive cornerstone, signing cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year contract extension two days after franchise-tagging him.

The homegrown expertise was drafted underneath the prior regime within the second spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft. Since then, he is steadily ascended into the most effective corners within the league. Chicago is now paying him prefer it.

A number of reviews point out the deal encompasses is for 4 years and $76 million, placing his common annual contract worth at $19 million per yr. This is not the very high of the cornerback market — Inexperienced Bay’s Jaire Alexander nonetheless owns that spot with a mean of $21 million per yr — however Johnson’s deal is entrance loaded with $54 million in ensures. Johnson will reportedly be paid $60 million within the first three years of the deal.

The 24-year-old Johnson may also be capable to hit the open market once more earlier than he turns 30.

“We’re extraordinarily excited to have the ability to preserve Jaylon right here for the subsequent 4 years,” basic supervisor Ryan Poles stated in a group assertion. “He is an integral a part of our protection and his management will assist our group proceed to ascend.”

This implies the Bears have now signed long-term offers for gamers in any respect three ranges of the protection. Final offseason, they obtained linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free company, giving him a four-year deal value $72 million. With 9 video games left within the 2023 season, Chicago traded for defensive finish Montez Sweat. They signed him to a four-year, $98 million deal days later.

Do not look now, however the Bears’ rebuild is correct on schedule.

Johnson was a serious element within the Bears protection’s success this previous yr, which noticed issues click on into place after the Sweat deal. Towards the again half of the season, the Bears recorded 16 interceptions in simply seven video games.

Johnson tied for the group lead in interceptions final season with 4. Johnson was additionally one of the best amongst Bears’ DBs in passer score allowed at 50.9. In line with PFF, Johnson took an enormous leap ahead in protection capacity in 2023. He scored a 91.0 protection grade after being graded at 65.2 within the prior yr.

Maybe being in a contract yr issues.

Even after Johnson’s new contract, the Bears nonetheless have the fifth-most cap area within the league with over $57.5 million. Poles has taken a gradual, regular strategy to constructing Chicago’s roster in an effort to construct for sustainable success. Poles had additionally not been shy about his need to maintain Johnson in Chicago. The 2 sides weren’t capable of meet within the center earlier than the franchise-tag deadline however Johnson was the highest candidate for the tag with out one other actual suitor. It purchased the 2 sides further time.

The contract is ready up in a method that advantages each events. Although the tag would have paid Johnson extra in 2023 by common annual worth, it lacked the steadiness this deal supplies. Johnson is signing as much as obtain the majority of it straight away and also will be capable to check the market or be up for an additional extension whereas nonetheless in his prime. That is the form of long-range considering that franchise gamers are constructed out of — and Chicago hopes Johnson is one for years to return. 

The Bears nonetheless have monumental flexibility to be movers and shakers in free company. In addition they personal the primary and ninth picks on this yr’s draft, lest we neglect. 

The group launched security Eddie Jackson and can probably be available in the market for an additional security. There’s fairly the free agent market to select from. Chicago may additionally go the draft route, even and not using a present second-round decide. 

Outdoors of that, the Bears do not have many extra wants on protection. They may use a “dude” up entrance on the three-technique, despite the fact that gamers like Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings did effectively of their first yr within the league. Each group may all the time use one other cross rusher. Chicago additionally nonetheless has a few wants on offense — middle, for one. It makes all of the sense on the earth to go after an skilled one, particularly if they begin over with a rookie quarterback. 

The Bears are probably additionally going to want tight finish reinforcements. They’ve Cole Kmet locked right into a long-term deal however new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron loves multiple-tight-end units and Kmet is at present the one one on the roster who began for Chicago final season.

Then, in fact, there’s the quarterback conundrum. However with the best way Poles has constructed this group and caught to his plan, Chicago followers ought to be ok with who they’ve constructing this Bears roster.

Carmen Vitali covers the NFC North for FOX Sports activities. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Community and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Tremendous Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You possibly can observe Carmen on Twitter at @CarmieV.

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