Jaylon Johnson, Bears reach 4-year contract extension

(670 The Score) Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and the Bears have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth up to $76 million, multiple sources said Thursday.

The deal includes $54 million guaranteed and came two days after Johnson was tendered the franchise tag Tuesday. For weeks, general manager Ryan Poles had expressed confidence that a long-term contract would be reached, and the sides quickly got the business done after the team applied the franchise tag.

Johnson, 24, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023 in which he hauled in a career-best four interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Johnson was also graded as the top cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

Johnson will be in line to hit free agency at 28 years old, putting him in line for another big payday if he plays well and stays healthy.

Johnson requested a trade back in October after negotiations on a long-term deal stalled, but he has since retracted that wish and continually expressed his desire to remain in Chicago.

“I just couldn’t see myself anywhere else,” Johnson said in January. "It’s easy to say, oh, you want out of somewhere until you get it and then it’s like, ‘Ah, this may not be quite what I want.’ But I would say for me, I want to stay here and I want to not make that transition now. I feel like we’re building something special too, especially with the guys in the locker room. I mean, it's something I can’t get anywhere else. I would like to stay and continue to build, make it better. And (shoot), I want to win some games and get to the playoffs and make a push with the Chicago name too.”

A second-round pick of the Bears in 2020, Johnson has played in 53 career games.

Johnson and the Bears entered into contract negotiations last offseason, an ongoing process that pushed into the regular season. Johnson's representation and Poles met in Los Angeles late last October with hopes of striking an agreement. Instead, Johnson requested a trade one day later, just prior to the NFL's trade deadline.

At the time, Poles explained that he sought a first- or high second-round pick in return for Johnson, saying he "would like to have a high percentage on hitting on another Jaylon Johnson." That trade never came to fruition, allowing Johnson and the Bears to continue their negotiations.

Last week at the NFL Combine, Poles expressed confidence in reaching a deal with Johnson and hoped to avoid utilizing the franchise tag before the deadline Tuesday.

“When I say come strong, that means cash flows are strong, guarantees are strong, the term is strong for him," Poles said of the deal structure. "Being with his age, there's a really good opportunity to go back to the market again and continue to earn money and play well and hopefully that's with the Bears for a long period of time. So, I'm excited about that."

Though the Bears and Johnson couldn't beat that deadline for the franchise tag, they struck an agreement about 48 hours later that will keep Johnson in Chicago for the long term.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .