At the NFL trade deadline, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson requested a trade. Now he sings a different tune and says he wants to stay.
This offseason, the Chicago Bears will have to make a number of major decisions. A couple major players’ contracts are up.
General manager Ryan Poles must decide whether to bring them back or let them leave. There’s also the matter of what to do if they get the first overall choice in the draft.
Do they keep quarterback Justin Fields, or do they move him and restart the quarterback clock?
Jaylon Johnson, a cornerback, is one of the players who might become free agents. He and the Bears have been in contract negotiations since the start of the season.
He planned to have a new contract done early on, as the team did with tight ends. Cole
Johnson appeared disappointed that no agreement or trade had been reached. He stated that he would cease all negotiations until the offseason.
The Bears would have to compete against other teams for his services. That, or slap the dreaded franchise tag on him. It would be for the average of the best five cornerbacks for a single year.
Johnson looks to have changed his tune. After implying that he will eventually go abroad, he suddenly says something different.
This week, he stated that he prefers to stay in Chicago. He still noted that if things don’t work out, he’ll look into other choices, but that he prefers to stay in Chicago.