Just a couple of years ago, the Chicago Bears bragged about having a true lockdown cornerback in Jaylon Johnson. While not a superstar, the two-time Pro Bowler held his own against the top pass catchers more often than not.
Well, those days are, unfortunately, long gone. Johnson hasn't been good at all this season, and he's quickly gone from a problem-solver to a big issue for this secondary. The Bears are stuck with him until the end of the season, but that doesn't mean they can't bench him.
The November 10 trade deadline is zooming in, and with it, the Bears have the perfect opportunity to bolster the cornerback room with Kristian Fulton, who's fallen behind in the Kansas City Chiefs' pecking order.
The Chicago Bears must try to trade for Kristian Fulton
Let's start with Johnson here. Over seven games, the former Pro Bowler has given up 24 receptions on 31 targets (77.4 percent) for 445 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 124.9. He's also missed 26.9 percent of his tackles, and Pro Football Focus ranks him 96th among 103 eligible cornerbacks with a 40.9 grade.
Now, back to Fulton. He's a starting-caliber guy who just happens to have the misfortune of playing for a team with two budding stars at cornerback. The Chiefs are high on Nohl Williams and Mansoor Delane, and they'll roll with them for as long as they're healthy.
Fulton has played excellent ball this season when given an opportunity, but he's barely seen the field when Delane has been healthy. He's about to become a free agent, and there's no way he will return to Missouri under those circumstances. He has allowed just four catches for 18 yards, and he has one interception despite not even playing all six games.
So, this is an easy equation. The Bears can probably get a starting-caliber guy at a massive discount, and the Chiefs would get something for his services instead of just letting him walk away for free. Fulton, on the other hand, would get to play for a Super Bowl contender.
The Bears' defense may have been better than anticipated, but they're still not on the offense's level. Things won't get easier as the season progresses, and the NFC North allows no margin for error, especially with the Minnesota Vikings still undefeated.
Johnson was a great player, and Bears fans will always cherish the good memories. That said, he's become unplayable now, and it's time Ryan Poles does something to address this glaring issue in the secondary.
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