Bears Agree to Massive Contract Extension With Jaylon Johnson

Jaylon Johnson's contract saga has hung over the Chicago Bears during this pivotal offseason. The two sides weren't able to agree on terms ahead of the franchise tag deadline, which led to Johnson being tagged.

Early reporting after that move said Chicago was just buying more time to negotiate with Johnson, and it turns out that was exactly the case.

The Bears are signing Johnson to a four-year, $76 million extension, according to Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz. The new deal includes $54.4 million guaranteed for the rising talent.

This is a win for both sides. Johnson made it clear he felt like he should be one of, if not the, highest-paid players at his position following a breakout 2023 campaign that saw him make the All-Pro Second Team. He'll certainly be happy about the $19 million average annual value of this contract, which places him in the top 10 in the league.

Meanwhile, the Bears have now locked down a secondary cornerstone for years to come. While Johnson's 2023 showing, which included four interceptions and a pick-six, made him known to the rest of the league, he's been a playmaker for this defense since entering the league with 41 passes defended over four seasons.

Allowing just 8.7 yards per completion and 4.8 yards per target in 2023, plus a QB passer rating of only 50.9 when in coverage, Johnson is a bonafide shutdown CB who'll continue to get better heading into his prime.

With a few more big signings in free agency, the Bears (+5000 on FanDuel Sportsbook right now) should see their odds to win the Super Bowl skyrocket.

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