Bears general manager Ryan Poles has an important decision to make about cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s future in Chicago.
Johnson is one of three Bears players from the 2020 draft class that are eligible for a contract extension this offseason, a group that also includes tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
After the Bears traded up for Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, Poles addressed the media and went as far to mention Johnson when discussing the future of the cornerback group.
“Jaylon, I hope he’s a guy we get to keep here for awhile, too,” Poles said on Friday night. “So, I’m excited about that group, inside and outside, and the depth of it as well.”
Earlier this offseason, Johnson made it clear he’d like to remain with the Bears for the long haul.
“That’s definitely my goal,” Johnson told NBC Sports Chicago at the Super Bowl. “That’s what I’ve always wanted to do is get my second contract after my third season with the Bears. There’s definitely been some talks. But I feel like it will heat up in due time after the free agency wave, the draft and things like that. We’ll just see where it goes.”
While Poles sounded like someone who wants to re-sign his CB1, we’ve also seen this movie before. Poles wanted to keep linebacker Roquan Smith and running back David Montgomery in Chicago, but they’ve ended up with new teams.
That’s not to say Poles didn’t want them back with the Bears. It’s simply the two sides couldn’t find common ground on an extension. We’ll see if Johnson’s story has a different ending.
