The Bears on Thursday agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
"We're extremely excited to be able to keep Jaylon here for the next four years," general manager Ryan Poles said. "He's an integral part of our defense and his leadership will help our team continue to ascend. We want to thank Chris Ellison for helping get this extension done."
Johnson was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah. He has started all 53 games he's played over four seasons, registering 161 tackles, five interceptions, 41 pass breakups, four tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
This past season the 6-foot, 196-pounder was voted second-team All-Pro and named to his first career Pro Bowl. He recorded 36 tackles, a career-high four interceptions—one of which he returned 39 yards for his first career touchdown—10 pass breakups, one tackle-for-loss and one forced fumble.
According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson limited opposing quarterbacks to a 26.2 passer rating when targeted in single coverage in Weeks 1-14, the lowest figure among cornerbacks in 2023. Through the first 15 Weeks, he allowed only 185 yards in single coverage. Johnson also had only one game where he allowed more than 25 yards in single coverage (PFF).
Johnson was due to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year March 13, but the Bears placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on the 24-year-old Tuesday. That gave them the opportunity to match any offer he received from another NFL team or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they chose not to match the deal.
With Johnson having agreed to the extension, the Bears have locked in another piece of a young, talented secondary that includes cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jaquan Brisker.
