Jaylon Johnson responds amid trade deadline rumors
The Chicago Bears are expecting to potentially be major sellers at the NFL trade deadline on October 31st after starting the season 1-5. The Bears would ideally like to load up on draft picks going into a loaded 2024 NFL Draft class while the team continues to rebuild. One player that has started to create […]
The Chicago Bears are expecting to potentially be major sellers at the NFL trade deadline on October 31st after starting the season 1-5.
The Bears would ideally like to load up on draft picks going into a loaded 2024 NFL Draft class while the team continues to rebuild.
One player that has started to create a lot of buzz on the trade block in Chicago has been cornerback Jaylon Johnson. On Monday, Johnson addressed the trade rumors surrounding himself while on 670 The Score.
"I'm not oblivious, I'm not blind and I'm not exempt at the end of the day," Johnson said. "When you trade Roquan [Smith] away, when you trade Robert Quinn away, man, you can trade anybody away. So, I mean, I'm definitely not exempt."
The Bears shopped Smith and Quinn out of town during the 2022 season prior to the official deadline. The Bears started the season 3-4 entering the deadline week and didn't win another game for the rest of the season, finishing 3-14.
However, if the Bears truly want to stock up on more draft picks, the 24-year-old on the final year of his contract is their best option. Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti listed ramifications for potential trade candidates on his piece posted on Wednesday. Here's what he had to say about Johnson.
"I’m on record stating that the Bears need to be thinking core players, not flashy weapons, so I’m in what appears to be a minority that feels as though the Bears should be looking to lock in their talented CB on an expiring contract. But if the trade compensation is too good to pass up, the acquiring team can have him at $1.6M for the rest of the season."
A $1.6M price tag for a one year flier is perfect for team's looking to add a man into their secondary ahead of a playoff push. On Monday, I listed the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles as potential trade partners to acquire Johnson before the deadline ends.
As for Johnson, his stance remains committed to the Bears organization despite all of the rumors circling around his head. Johnson stated that he just wants to continue "to go out there and put great film on tape, whatever happens after that happens."
"I know what's going on," he added. "I know what is to be figured out and different things like that. At the end of the day, the Bears got to do what's best for them and I got to do what's best for me. Whatever happens with that happens. I'm not forcing anything. Like I've been saying from day one, I want to stay here. This is my first team, my home, I bought a house here, everything. All my plans were to stay in Chicago."
We'll see which route the Bears and general manager Ryan Poles decide to take with their young cornerback in the coming days ahead.
Bears should be major sellers at the deadline, here’s 3 players worth trading
The deadline is quickly approaching
