Jaylon Johnson embracing opportunity to cover DJ Moore at Bears training camp

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is one of several high-profile players on the team who will play the 2023 season on an expiring contract.

Cole Kmet was one of them, but his new four-year, $50 million extension has removed him from the contract shuffle.

That leaves Johnson and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool as the big Bears who can earn a lucrative new deal if their play on the field warrants it.

Johnson has an inside track to prove he deserves his money during training camp practice, where he’s squaring off against DJ Moore, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. If Johnson wins more reps than he loses against Moore, it’s safe to assume he’ll shutdown most of the wide receivers he faces in the near future.

“I like it because I’m competitive,” Johnson said Friday of his battles vs. Moore. “And I like to think he’s one of the better receivers in the league.”

Moore has made his fair share of highlight-reel plays at training camp, but most of them have come against other cornerbacks, not Johnson.

But if Johnson wants to get paid like the top cornerbacks in the NFL, he’ll need to produce like one. He only has one interception in three seasons. It’s an alarming lack of ball production that Johnson knows is part of his market valuation.

“Being in people’s faces a lot of the time, you don’t get to see the ball coming too often,” Johnson said. “A lot of times, too, I’m not getting gifts. I don’t get the tipped passes that other people get. I don’t get the underthrown balls. I don’t get any of that. So it’s a combination of some of the things that I do and sometimes you’re just lucky. I haven’t had that go my way too much. I don’t worry about that too much.”

The top cornerbacks in the league are averaging between $18 million and $20 million per season. Trevon Diggs (Cowboys) signed a five-year, $97 million extension last week, a deal that Johnson knows won’t be his market value if he doesn’t stuff the stat sheet more.

“We’re in two totally different ballgames,” Johnson said. “He’s an All-Pro, 17 picks in three years. He’s done some really good things. Hats off to him and congrats to him. I am definitely happy for him and for the cornerback market as well.”

Jaylon Johnson is a breath of fresh air. He’s bringing a logical and rational approach to his contract year. Unlike Roquan Smith’s contract squabble in 2022, Johnson has found the right blend between team and personal interests.

“I want the deal done as soon as possible, but I’m not going to get caught up in it,” Johnson said. “I want to win, and I know accolades come with winning. It’s not too often you just go out here and don’t win games and you get all those accolades. I’m really worried about winning and doing my part and playing at a high level, and I feel like everybody will reap the benefits from it.”