Teams with a lot of salary-cap room first focus on investing in their own players. It's generally smarter to build from within rather than going after veterans in free agency, where teams end up paying too much for players who are often available for a reason.
The Chicago Bears are heading into a pivotal offseason with a healthy cap situation. They have the eighth-most “effective cap space,” according to overthecap.com, at $36.6 million. Effective cap space takes into account where a team will be after it has met what’s called the “Rule of 51,” for offseason bookkeeping purposes, and signed its projected rookie class. For the Bears, that includes the first and ninth picks in the draft.
The Bears’ figure is expected to rise. Releasing free safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair would create an additional $21 million in cap room. So general manager Ryan Poles has more than enough flexibility to accomplish his goals for the next phase of roster construction.
That process is likely to start with negotiations to keep cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who was voted to the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro after a great season that included a career-high four interceptions.
“Jaylon’s not going to go anywhere,” Poles said last week, a sure sign the Bears are prepared to use the franchise tag if they’re unable to hammer out a multiyear contract before the window closes. Teams can apply the tag from Feb. 20 through March 5.
The franchise tag for cornerbacks is expected to be about $18.8 million in 2024, and that would set a starting point for contract negotiations and buy another five months to work out more than a one-year deal. The Bears have used the franchise tag twice in the last decade — on wide receivers Allen Robinson in 2021 and Alshon Jeffery in 2016 — and placed the transition tag on cornerback Kyle Fuller in 2018.
Johnson wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, a title currently held by Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers or Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns, depending on how you measure it.
“The ball’s in my court, the ball’s in my favor,” Johnson said Wednesday when he appeared on the Fox Sports podcast “All Facts No Brakes” with Keyshawn Johnson. “I think it’s just a matter of time and when it happens. Going into the negotiations I don’t think there’s too much to try to talk about.
“I feel like there’s no reason why I can’t be the highest-paid corner in the league. That’s what I’m aiming for. That’s what I’m shooting for. That’s what I think can be done and should be done.”
Alexander received a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022, with the average annual salary of $21 million setting the bar atop the market. That same year, Ward got a five-year, $100.5 million extension ($20.5 million average) with a record $44.5 million fully guaranteed. Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins is the only other cornerback in the $20 million club in terms of annual average, having signed a five-year, $100 million deal in 2020.
After two years since the Alexander and Ward contracts, Johnson, who had bet on himself, is aiming to reset the market based on his performance, accolades, and the rising salary cap. It remains to be seen whether he will be successful.
Poles was hesitant to offer a market-setting deal to inside linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022. While he hasn't discussed specific numbers for Johnson, cornerback is considered a more valuable position, and the Bears could strengthen their team by keeping Johnson and developing their young cornerbacks.
The cornerback market has slightly declined since Alexander and Ward were paid, but this was likely due to the available talent rather than a change in the thinking about positional value and budget allocation.
Some defensive coaches prioritize cover men over pass rushers, believing it's easier for offenses to plan against a defensive end than an elite cornerback, especially one who is strong against the run.
This doesn't mean top-tier edge rushers are not important for great defense – they are. However, if given the choice between an elite cornerback or an elite edge rusher, some coaches would choose the cornerback who can effectively cover top-tier wide receivers.
That's why it's crucial for the Bears to retain their talent. Johnson is turning 25 in April, and despite having two more years of experience, he is only eight months older than Gordon.
The Bears admire Johnson and his attitude, as he is exactly what you would want in a cornerback who desires to face the top receiver every Sunday. The main concern when considering making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league is his durability, as he has missed several games due to injuries in the past few seasons.
This does not diminish Johnson's accomplishments this season, as he was already having an exceptional season before the acquisition of defensive end Montez Sweat. His success was not solely due to an improved pass rush.
The front office has a lot to handle with numerous competing priorities. The Bears need to prepare for free agency and draft meetings while solidifying Matt Eberflus' coaching staff. fill out Matt Eberflus' coaching staff Confidence that the Bears will reach an agreement with Johnson should be high, but it may take some time. The last three players the Bears used the franchise tag on played out their one-year deals. The Bears managed to secure running back Matt Forte with the franchise tag in 2012, ultimately leading to a four-year contract.
The objective with Johnson should be to secure a multiyear agreement.
“We’ll work through it and get something done,” Poles said.
It's a matter of how high the financial compensation, and more significantly, the guarantees, will be.
The Chicago Bears are entering a significant offseason with a good amount of money to spend. If they let go of free safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, they could free up an extra $21 million. They are expected to start by trying to keep cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who made it to the Pro Bowl and was named a second-team All-Pro after a…
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