Bears Agree to 4-year $76 Million Extension with Jaylon Johnson
After a year of on-again, off-again negotiations the Chicago Bears finally agreed to a 4-year contract extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Johnson Thursday. The move came after Johnson received a non-exclusive franchise tag on Tuesday which would have guaranteed him $19.8 million in 2024 while allowing other teams to negotiate a long-term deal with him.
Instead of worrying about having to match a potential contract offer from a rival team, Bears GM Ryan Poles locked down the 2020 second round selection to a $76 million deal. The contract makes him the highest paid player on Chicago’s current roster.
🚨 🚨 🚨
Sources: The #Bears and Pro Bowl CB Jaylon Johnson are finalizing a 4-year, $76M new contract that makes him one of the game’s highest paid at his position.
Instead of the franchise tag, Chicago locks in their superstar long-term, another key piece on D. pic.twitter.com/vsffLhksnt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2024
The former Utah Ute had a breakout year in 2023 with four interceptions and a forced fumble to earn his first Pro Bowl invitation. It appears a big holdup in negotiations was Johnson’s demand to surpass the previous record high of guaranteed money paid to a corner which the Rams gave All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey in 2020. A demand the Bears finally met by literally the smallest amount possible with $43.8 million guaranteed compared to 43.7 for Ramsey.
$43.8M fully guaranteed at signing just narrowly surpasses Jalen Ramsey's 5/$100M deal from 2020 ($43.7M), looks like that was a goal
Blend of the 5-year and 4-year extensions recently at CB, where Chicago kept the overall value down by giving in on 4-year, but strong structure https://t.co/oykjOoweVd
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) March 7, 2024
With the Johnson deal and the extension for Montez Sweat Chicago is hoping to continue to strengthen an improving defensive unit. Now the expectation is a decision on what to do with Justin Fields will be coming in the next week or two. Stay tuned.
