Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is confident that he deserves a higher salary on his upcoming contract.
Jaylon Johnson has solidified his position as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, playing a significant role in the resurgence of the Bears' defense. As he enters a contract year, it's evident that his market value is on the rise.
Johnson has not only excelled as a top coverage cornerback in the league but has also added interceptions to his repertoire this season, with a career-high of four interceptions in 11 games. He now believes that he deserves a more substantial contract than he initially anticipated.
Reflecting on his performance, Johnson expressed his confidence during an appearance on the Parkins & Spiegel Show, stating, "After this season, I feel like there's not anything that you can say that I'm not doing. I feel like, before the season, I've consistently excelled in coverage for three years. And it's always been like, 'Can he intercept the ball? Can he intercept the ball?' So now, after this year, you can't deny my ability to cover at an elite level."
He continued, "You can't question my status as an elite coverage specialist. You can't dispute my ability to generate turnovers. You can't argue that I can't tackle. Realistically, what more is there that I need to do to deserve top-tier pay, top cornerback money? I genuinely believe that now, there's a clear opportunity and justification, especially if I achieve All-Pro recognition. There's nothing that I haven't accomplished that warrants it."
Currently, Jaylon Johnson holds the highest grade among cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus for the current season, further solidifying his status as the Bears' defensive standout. It begs the question: Did the Bears miss an opportunity to secure his services at a lower rate?
Johnson's response was candid, "Maybe, I mean, perhaps. I'm thinking along the same lines as you guys."
The Bears do have the option of utilizing the franchise tag, which would guarantee Johnson a salary equivalent to the average of the top five salaries at his position. Johnson seemed accepting of this possibility, especially considering that Over The Cap projects it to be around $18.41 million.
He quipped, "The money is still good," with a touch of humor.
| POLL | ||
14 DECEMBRE | 35 ANSWERS Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is confident that he deserves a higher salary on his upcoming contract. Should the bears pay more to Jaylon Johnson? | ||
| yes | 22 | 62.9 % |
| no | 13 | 37.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
