Cornerback Jaylon Johnson enters free agency on the heels of the best season of his career. Starting all 14 games in which he appeared, the cornerback finished the season with a career-best four interceptions and a 90.8 PFF grade, good for the best mark in the league among 127 eligible players. Johnson has always been a good player, but this impressive season ensures that he’ll earn a massive payday in the coming months.
In today’s pass-happy NFL, every single team in the league is trying to find guys who can slow down opposing aerial attacks. Jaylon Johnson is one of the few guys in the league capable of lining up against another team’s top receiver for an entire game, and he knows how much that ability is worth.
“Heart’s definitely in Chicago, mind’s definitely on the money,” Johnson said during the Pro Bowl. “So, I mean, we’ll figure out if we can make them both come together and get something done. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s to come.”
Jaylon Johnson: Mind’s “Definitely On the Money” In Free Agency
Based on the quote above, it appears as though Jaylon Johnson would be willing to skip free agency entirely if the Bears make a favorable offer. While Chicago has the financial freedom to do that, it’s hard to see an offer coming to fruition, as they’ve had plenty of opportunities to sign their star cornerback before now.
Over the past year, Johnson has publicly sought an extension and requested a trade, yet the Bears were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal. This implies that the two sides have dramatically different opinions about what Jaylon Johnson means to the team, which likely means a free agency departure is inevitable. While Chicago could use the franchise tag to keep him around for one more year, there is a decent chance Johnson has played his last snap with the Bears. Every team in the league should be interested in him, but these five make the most sense.
Best Free Agent Team Fits
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick is gone, but most of his front office remains in Foxboro. Because of this, it’s safe to assume the organizational philosophy will remain intact, and that includes building a defense around cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez showed plenty of promise as a rookie, but the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. Having two lockdown corners means that the offense won’t have to do too much, and that could be the best thing for whoever ends up starting for New England next year.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions made it to the NFC Championship Game, and they did it despite their defense. The offense should be fine with Ben Johnson coming back for another season, so Detroit should invest most of its resources into fixing the defense. With over $61 million in cap space, this team can sign Jaylon Johnson in free agency without sacrificing their ability to add depth throughout the roster.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in football, but their big weakness is at the cornerback position. Marlon Humphrey didn’t play up to his usual standard last year, and Brandon Stephens, Ronald Darby, and Arthur Maulet are nothing more than complementary role players. Good cornerbacks are hard to find, and they’re vital when you share a division with Ja’Marr Chase. Baltimore might need to manipulate the cap a little bit, but signing Jaylon Johnson in free agency would increase their odds of finally making it back to the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Chargers
Right now, the Los Angeles Chargers do not have the financial ability to sign someone like Jaylon Johnson in free agency. However, if they so desired, they could easily clear up plenty of cap space and sign whoever they want. Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers were built around a strong defense that didn’t allow anything through the ground or the air, and if he wants to do the same thing in Los Angeles, he’ll need someone like Johnson in the secondary.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars collapsed down the stretch in large part because the defense couldn’t compensate for a hobbled Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence isn’t the type of quarterback who can do it all by himself, so Jacksonville should add a defensive star like Jaylon Johnson in free agency. C.J. Stroud is the real deal, and if the Jaguars want to keep winning the division, they’ll need to find someone who can slow down Houston’s passing attack.
Main Photo: Jamie Sabau – USA Today Sports
