LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears general manager Ryan Poles has no intention of letting Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson leave the team in free agency.
Johnson is on track to become a free agent this March after playing out his rookie contract in the 2023 season. Despite a previous breakdown in contract negotiations between Johnson’s representation and the Bears, Poles remains optimistic the two sides will reach a long-term deal this offseason.
If the Bears can’t reach an extension with Johnson, they could instead utilize the franchise tag to retain the 24-year-old Johnson on a one-year contract in 2024.
“I feel really good about that situation,” Poles said Wednesday at the Bears’ season-ending press conference. “Jaylon’s not going to go anywhere, and we’ll work through it to get something done.”
Johnson had four interceptions in 14 games in 2023. He was the top-ranked cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades.
The franchise tag would pay out north of $18 million to cornerbacks in 2024, according to projections. The exact figure hasn't been yet set.
Johnson’s representation and Poles conducted negotiations during the first half of the regular season, but those conversations broke down in late October. That led Johnson to request a trade out of Chicago, but the Bears kept him.
Johnson’s stance has since changed, as he’s hopeful he can remain with the Bears for the long term.
“I just couldn’t see myself anywhere else,” Johnson said. "It’s easy to say, oh, you want out of somewhere until you get it and then it’s like, ‘Ah, this may not be quite what I want.’ But I would say for me, I want to stay here and I want to not make that transition now. I feel like we’re building something special too, especially with the guys in the locker room. I mean, it’s something I can’t get anywhere else. I would like to stay and continue to build, make it better. And (shoot), I want to win some games and get to the playoffs and make a push with the Chicago name too.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.