LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- As a rookie in 2020, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson would often dine with veteran Kyle Fuller and find that his teammate's eyes were looking down.
Fuller was glancing down at his iPad, studying up on every last tendency he could find for a matchup looming that coming Sunday. If Bears players or coaches needed to find Fuller before or after practice, he would likely be seated in front of his locker watching film. Fuller was a dedicated student of the game, and that resonated with the team.
The Bears relied on the steady presence of Fuller, a starting cornerback since his rookie season of 2014. Now, they're seeking improvements defensively without their stalwart in the secondary after they released Fuller in March to save salary cap room.
Replacing Fuller in the secondary is a two-fold challenge for the Bears -- and one that's still filled with great uncertainty. With that in mind, let's assess the state of the Bears' cornerback position.
Can Johnson become a top cornerback?
Bears veteran safety Tashaun Gipson believes the team has an emerging top-five cornerback in the 22-year-old Johnson.
“My goal is to be number one," Johnson said of Gipson's praise. "That’s what I work for. We all know who’s at the top of that list, and we all know what it’s going to take to get there."
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Before Johnson can set his sights playing at the level of Rams star Jalen Ramsey, he must assert himself as a top cornerback for the Bears.
Reflecting back, Johnson determined he wouldn't define his rookie season as a "success," a comment that seemed surprising considering he played admirably in his first year. But he has higher goals for himself.
Johnson pointed to the fact that he had zero interceptions in 13 games in 2020 as part of why he felt he could've accomplished more. He allowed five touchdowns in pass coverage, which he felt was five too many. Johnson also ranked 84th out of 121 cornerbacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus. By comparison, Fuller was 52nd on that list.
The Bears selected Johnson with the No. 50 overall pick in the NFL Draft in 2020 with the belief that they were adding Fuller's complement. Instead, Johnson has now been forced to replace Fuller and fill a large void in the secondary.
The Bears will rely on Johnson not only to match up against the top receivers each week but to also take the football away. It's the job of a No. 1 cornerback.
"I’m going to go out and compete," Johnson said. "I’m going to fight, I’m going to get better."
Next man up?
On the same day Fuller's release was made official, the Bears signed veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant on a one-year deal.
It seemed the Bears had identified Fuller's replacement in Trufant, a first-round pick of the Falcons in 2013 who has played eight NFL seasons and made 103 starts. But Trufant is on the roster bubble with with one week remaining until teams must make cuts to get to 53 players.
Trufant has missed the last week of work due to a personal matter. When he has been with the Bears in practice, he hasn't done enough to solidify a starting spot. Trufant, who ranked 120th out of Pro Football Focus' top 121 cornerbacks in 2020, seems to be falling behind competitors Kindle Vildor and Artie Burns at cornerback.
A first-round pick of the Steelers in 2016, Burns suffered a torn ACL in August 2020 while fighting for a place with the Bears. He returned this season and has made a good impression on the coaching staff, but it could be Vildor, a fifth-round pick in 2020, who earns that starting nod.
Vildor started one game as a rookie last season. He excelled as a rookie by working on the scout team and preparing himself through practice, Bears secondary coach Deshea Townsend said.
Vildor feels he's now ready to step in as a starter.
“My confidence level is up there," he said. "I’m just ready to go out there and prove myself to everybody that I belong.”
The Bears appear content with third-year cornerback Duke Shelley stepping in at the nickel position. Xavier Crawford and Marqui Christian have also been competing for that job.
Bears coach Matt Nagy is pleased that competition is still ongoing at cornerback and isn't concerned that a starter hasn't been named just yet. He also knows the importance of the position.
How the Bears fill Fuller's void at cornerback could dictate whether their defense indeed improves.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.