Bears grant Jaylon Johnson permission to seek a trade after failed contract negotiations
The Chicago Bears have just announced a huge decision with hours remaining until the NFL trade deadline officially closes. It was reported on Monday night that the Bears have granted permission for cornerback Jaylon Johnson to seek a trade following his official request to be traded. The Bears will now have until 4:00pm EST on […]
The Chicago Bears have just announced a huge decision with hours remaining until the NFL trade deadline officially closes.
It was reported on Monday night that the Bears have granted permission for cornerback Jaylon Johnson to seek a trade following his official request to be traded.
The Bears will now have until 4:00pm EST on Tuesday to find a potential suitor willing to acquire the disgruntled cornerback. Three teams have already been rumored to have interest in Johnson, including the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson and the Bears revisited contract talks over the past week after breaking off extension discussions when the season began. Johnson's public statements following his two interception game in Week 7 prompted the two sides to continue possibly working out a long term deal.
However, those discussions clearly did not go as planned and both sides reportedly didn't even come close to striking a consensus. Now, both parties are willing to go their separate ways. Whichever team comes forward to acquire Johnson will only owe him $1.6M for the rest of the season, but will likely sign him to a long-term extension.
Johnson addressed the apparent trade rumors surround his name a few days ago and understood that anything could happen with the deadline approaching, especially when it comes to the Bears.
"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 former second-round pick has recorded 2 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown in 2023. Johnson has allowed the third-lowest passer rating (37.3) to opposing quarterbacks this season among players with 100+ pass coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Whichever team acquires Johnson will have a very productive 24-year-old cornerback who they can lock in long-term. The Bears should have plenty of viable suitors willing to drive up the potential haul the Bears will receive in return.
If the Bears cannot find a trade partner within the next few hours, the team could easily elect to place Johnson on a franchise tag at the end of the season and trade him away during the offseason.
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