AP Photo/Stew Milne
The Chicago Bears reportedly gave cornerback Jaylon Johnson permission to peek a change earlier than Tuesday’s NFL change time restrict.
In step with NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Johnson’s agent, Chris Ellison, got clearance at 12 a.m. ET, giving him 16 hours to search out a change partner earlier than the 4 p.m. ET time restrict.
Johnson, who used to be a 2d-round choose within the 2020 NFL draft out of Utah, is within the course of the final year of his contract, that diagram any crew that acquires him might per chance maybe even are seeking to determine a protracted-term contract extension, otherwise he can become a free agent for the length of the offseason.
The 24-year-frail Johnson has been a starter for the entire thing of his profession, initiating all forty five video games he has looked in over the direction of 4 NFL seasons.
While he had a entire of factual one interception in his first three seasons, Johnson already has two picks in six video games this season to affiliate with 18 tackles, four passes defended and one compelled fumble.
Each and each of Johnson’s interceptions this season came within the Bears’ Week 7 procure over the Las Vegas Raiders, and he returned one of them 39 yards for a touchdown.
Presumably the lone demand tag in terms of Johnson is sturdiness, as he uncared for a entire of 11 video games over his first three seasons with shoulder and finger accidents.
Johnson has additionally uncared for two video games this season with a hamstring atomize, but if his performance in opposition to the Raiders used to be any indication, he’s now fully wholesome.
Although the Bears were a sieve defensively this season, ranking 23rd within the NFL in entire defense and 28th in scoring defense, Johnson has been one of many lone gleaming spots.
Pro Soccer Focus has graded Johnson because the third-finest cornerback within the NFL this season with a grade of 84.4, tying him with Seattle Seahawks rookie sensation Devon Witherspoon.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, sources fill indicated that the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles are within the marketplace for a cornerback, making Johnson a doable target for all three groups.
At 2-6, the Bears are in rebuilding mode and basically fill their sights region on persevering with to reshape their roster through the 2024 NFL draft.
Although there might per chance be worth in signing a talented, young corner like Johnson to a protracted-term deal, getting even more draft capital in change for him would serve the rebuilding direction of as successfully.