(670 The Score) After the conclusion of a season in which he requested a trade but went nowhere and with free agency looming as a possibility, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson expects that he’ll reach a contract extension with the Bears this offseason, he told the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Monday evening.
The 24-year-old Johnson played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2023 and will become a free agent in March if he doesn’t sign a contract extension before then and if the Bears also don’t use a tag on him. While all avenues theoretically remain a possibility, Johnson expects to be in a Bears uniform – and handsomely paid on a long-term deal – when the 2024 season starts.
“I think we get a deal done,” Johnson said. “I expect to get a deal done, let’s say that.”
Johnson then shed more light on his thought process.
“It’s going to get done,” Johnson said. “We ain’t started (negotiations) yet. We barely finished the season yesterday. So I mean, let everything calm down. We still got a Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl, there’s a lot going on still (in the NFL), that I feel like there’s some time to maybe go by. But I mean, at the end of the day, we’ll be in contact soon. I think some things will be done, hopefully quicker rather than later. And then we’ll go from there.”
Johnson also thanked Bears teammates, members of the organization and fans for their support.
“I definitely appreciate the love, the support and all of that,” he said. “I think that’s also helped me to be at peace. I think it would be a harder situation if you’re in the opposite – ‘Well, he ain’t really that big of a deal.’ It’s like, ‘Damn, OK, are they going to get rid of me? Or what are they going to do?’ Being in the position that I’m in, I think it’s been nothing but love. I’ve been saying this whole year, God has blessed me to be able to have the season I’m having. So the combination of my work on the field, the love from the fans, the support staff, just everybody every time I walk into the building, it’s always so much love, especially after getting the Pro Bowl. Everybody has been coming up to me showing love, showing that support. So it’s all feeling good. Like I said, I’m confident and expect to get a deal done in Chicago.”
While a shoulder injury caused him to sit out the Bears’ 17-9 loss to the Packers on Sunday in their season finale, Johnson had a terrific season. He had four interceptions in 14 games, and he was graded by Pro Football Focus as the top cornerback in the NFL entering Week 18.