Days after being named to his first career Pro Bowl, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson received yet another high honor to cap off his tremendous 2023 season.

Johnson was named to the Associated Press' Second Team All-Pro list, another first of his young career. Johnson was named to the second team alongside San Francisco 49ers' cornerback Charvarius Ward and Buffalo Bills' slot cornerback Taron Johnson.

The first team All-Pro selections at the position included Dallas Cowboys' cornerback DaRon Bland, New York Jets' cornerback Sauce Gardner, and Kansas City Chiefs' slot cornerback Trent McDuffie.

While the honor is an incredible recognition for Johnson following easily the best season of his NFL career and during the final year of his rookie contract, it's easy to think that he was potentially robbed from the top honor of being a first team All-Pro.

Here's how the voting went down at the outside cornerback position. First place votes are worth three points and second place votes are worth one point.

DaRon Bland 98 (28 1st place)
Sauce Gardner 73 (20)
Jaylon Johnson 61 (15)
Charvarius Ward 56 (14)
L’Jarius Sneed 42 (10)
Denzel Ward 27 (6)
Patrick Surtain 21 (5)

Jaylon Johnson's Case For First Team All-Pro

Make no question about it, Bland was extremely deserving of a first team All-Pro recognition after leading the league in interceptions and setting the single season NFL record for interceptions returned for a touchdown in 2023.

However, it's much harder to make the case for Gardner to be named over Johnson following this season. Gardner is an incredible player who had another solid season in 2023 but his numbers hardly came close to Johnson's.

Among players with 500+ coverage snaps in 2023, Johnson allowed the lowest passer rating in the entire league (33.3), according to Pro Football Focus. Gardner allowed a 76.5 passer rating in coverage, which ranked 25th among players meeting that criteria.

Johnson was also tied for a team-high with four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Gardner had zero interceptions. Johnson allowed 25 receptions on 50 targets for a 50.0 reception percentage. Gardner allowed 29 receptions on 51 targets for a 56.9 reception percentage. 

The only statistical category Gardner edged Johnson in is pass breakups, Gardner had 10 and Johnson had 6. However, actually turning the ball over should in theory hold more weight.

It was shocking to see Gardner get the nod over Johnson seemingly just by name value in what is considered a highly prestigious honor. Johnson should still be pleased with being recognized as a second team All-Pro. He's the first Bears defensive back to receive the honor since Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller were named as first team All-Pros in 2018.

Other Bears players who received votes but didn't make the list: wide receiver DJ Moore (6 points), linebacker TJ Edwards (5 points), slot cornerback Kyler Gordon (1 point), kicker Cairo Santos (1 point) and long snapper Patrick Scales (1 point).

Ryan Poles reveals Jaylon Johnson’s future with the team

He didn’t mince words.