As Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson seeks a contract extension from the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles is confident he has put a fair offer on the table.
“Cash flows are strong. Guarantees are strong. The term is ‘strong’ for him,” Poles said Tuesday morning at the NFL scouting combine. “At his age (24), there’s a really good opportunity for him to go back to the market again and continue to earn money and play well, and hopefully that’s with the Bears for a long period of time.”
Poles didn’t share specific parameters of the offer the Bears have presented to Johnson and his camp. But the GM seems determined to make good on his vow immediately after the season that he wouldn’t let Johnson get away this offseason.
Johnson’s rookie contract expires in two weeks when the new league year begins, potentially opening the door for him to hit the open market in free agency. But the Bears also have the franchise tag as a backstop to their negotiations and face a deadline of next Tuesday to apply that to Johnson if the sides don’t agree on an extension first.
“I think there is really good space for us to find the middle ground,” Poles said. “Again, we always have the tag to use. But I really would like to get something done long term.”
Johnson had his best season in 2023, totaling four interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl invitation and second-team All-Pro honors and solidifying himself as a key playmaker on a fast-improving Bears defense. According to Pro Football Reference, quarterbacks threw for only 279 yards with a 50.9 passer rating when targeting Johnson.
Johnson has talked openly since last season began about his desire to earn a second contract that rewards him as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. Poles believes he has presented a fair offer that Johnson should seriously consider.
“We feel like we’ve done a really good job of coming to the table strong,” Poles said. “(We’re) showing him the respect that he’s due in terms on his production through his career and really with an emphasis on the turnovers he created this past year. Our expectation is that is going to continue to go as he is with the Bears.”
