Jaylon Johnson’s best season as a pro came at the right time, earning Second Team All-Pro honors while playing for the Chicago Bears. In his fourth season with the NFC North squad, Johnson had 36 tackles, ten passes defended, and four interceptions.
Those numbers will earn him much attention, especially when the legal period for negotiating with free agents starts on March 11. Johnson played the 2023 season under the final year of his four-year, $6.46 million rookie scale contract. He doesn’t qualify for a fifth-year option because he was a second-round pick.
For his All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades, Johnson earned a base salary of only $2.9 million. His output has exceeded that amount, giving him the leverage to negotiate for a higher-paying deal. If those stats are insufficient to justify his case, his camp can use what Pro Football Focus revealed on X (formerly Twitter).
PFF shared that Johnson allowed more than 25 receiving yards only once throughout the regular season. It’s a feat that can help him demand the contract he deserves. But will he get a deal comparable to the highest-paid players in his position?
Jaylon Johnson allowed more than 25 yards in just ONE GAME this season pic.twitter.com/1YQU7QEL8E
— PFF (@PFF) February 21, 2024
The Green Bay Packers’ Jaire Alexander led the way, averaging $21 million annually. Denzel Ward is second at $20.1 million, while Jalen Ramsey is third at $20 million. Jaylon Johnson’s camp can use those contracts as vantage point during negotiations.
The Bears selected Johnson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While he had an excellent 2023, he hasn’t played an entire regular season since becoming a pro player. The most he’s had was 15 in 2021.
-Lance Fernandez