Not so long ago, the Chicago Bears bragged about having a shutdown corner in Jaylon Johnson. The veteran signed a four-year, $76 million deal that looked like a bargain at one point, but it has now aged like milk left out of the fridge.
Johnson has struggled mightily in coverage this season. It's been so ugly that fans might wonder whether it would be better to bench him and ride with the ever-struggling Tyrique Stevenson in his place instead.
That's why, after another tough outing in the 30-24 win over the New England Patriots, it's starting to look like this will be his final season in the Windy City. He's making it impossible to keep him on the field, let alone on the team.
The Chicago Bears should release Jaylon Johnson after the season
Given the structure of his contract, releasing Johnson mid-season wouldn't help the team's cap situation. Fortunately, they're not stuck with him beyond this season, and releasing him in the 2027 offseason would actually save them $16 million in cap space, according to Stick to the Model.
His numbers, both traditional and advanced, are pretty atrocious. Pro Football Focus gives him a 44.8 grade, which ranks 93rd among 102 eligible cornerbacks. His coverage grade (41.6) is even worse (94th out of 102).
The algorithm can lie, but math doesn't. He's giving 17.5 yards per reception and a 112 passer rating, has missed four tackles, doesn't have a single interception, and only has one pass breakup. He's given up a catch on 71.4 percent of his targets for 346 yards, and he's been called for three penalties.
Johnson's struggles may have hit a new low in the Patriots' end-of-half touchdown. He chose the most terrible angle imaginable and left the door wide open for Rhamondre Stevenson to walk into the end zone.
The Bears' cornerback woes have been going on for a while, but Johnson used to be the lone bright spot in that room. Now, rookie Malik Muhammad looks like the best option on the boundary, with Kyler Gordon excelling in the slot since returning from injury.
It's impossible to think someone will be interested in taking his big contract this season, so moving on from him right now is simply not realistic. But unless he turns things around in the final 10 games of the season, there's simply no way to justify bringing him back for another year.
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