I know a (tired) rebuttal to criticism of an NFL executive is that you should try doing their job for a day. But as time passes, I have a hard time believing I wouldn’t fare better than Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles. The respective contract situations with Chicago’s star cornerback Jaylon Johnson and hopeful new franchise pass rusher Montez Sweat are a perfect example of how Poles continually find ways to paint himself into a corner.
The GM’s plan-less process is almost an art form if it didn’t actively torture exhausted Bears fans so much.
On Wednesday, after apparently hot trade talks fell through, Johnson — who is in the last year of his rookie contract — professed that he’ll be a professional. Despite not yet receiving a lucrative extension, he will play out the rest of the 2023 season for Chicago at a high level because he doesn’t want to create a distraction. Well, except for one crucial caveat involving Sweat, that is.
When asked whether Sweat, who has yet to play a single game for Chicago, receiving a new contract would bother the seasoned Johnson, he answered in the affirmative. Yes, it would not sit right with him, in fact.
Uh-oh:
Reporter: “So if (Montez Sweat) does get an extension before you, would that not sit right with you?”
Jaylon Johnson: “No it wouldn’t, for sure” pic.twitter.com/OfNUAmsXFT
— Justin Fields Fan Club (@JustinFieldsFC) November 1, 2023
Johnson’s de-facto warning also came right before Poles said the Bears are working hard to keep Sweat in Chicago long-term. To make matters worse, per Josina Anderson, Johnson will not negotiate with the Bears again until the season ends, effectively guaranteeing that Sweat will likely get his deal before Johnson if Poles moves fast.
I swear, only the Bears could potentially muck up not one but two players’ contract negotiations like this:
Bears GM Ryan Poles described DE Montez Sweat as a "multiplier." … "We're currently working on getting a contract done now."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) November 1, 2023
Extra tidbits on #Bears CB Jaylon Johnson:
A trade to send the #Bears corner is not getting done today, and I'm told that Johnson does not plan to engage in contract extension talks for the rest of the season.
Johnson intends to be a pro about the situation and planned for the…— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 31, 2023
I understand the Bears, who own the NFL’s worst team pass rush by far, wanted to get ahead of the free agency pack by acquiring the rights to Sweat now. But to do so without an extension already in place while you’re actively in talks with a disgruntled franchise cornerback is just flat-out silly. It’s putting the cart before the horse. Given everything he’s accomplished in Chicago as a lockdown cornerback for 3.5 seasons, Johnson would be right to feel scorned by the Bears over someone new to the organization getting rewarded before him.
Never mind that the Bears aren’t even guaranteed to extend Sweat. And if that worst-case scenario happens — after surrendering a second-round pick in the trade — they will undoubtedly use their sole franchise tag on the defensive end. Barring an extension for Johnson after the fact, that would slam the door wide open on the star cornerback leaving Chicago for greener pastures in March’s free agency. So when I say I believe I can do a better job of managing the Bears than Ryan Poles, I mean it wholeheartedly.
It just isn’t remotely a high bar.
Only a desperate fool could create a financial “tug of war” between two of his hopeful foundational pieces.
