Bears general manager Ryan Poles has made one thing unmistakably clear about cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s contract situation: He’s not letting him leave.
The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag on pending free agents is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Unless Poles and Johnson agree to terms on a contract extension, the Bears will have to use that option.
It would put Johnson on a one-year deal for $19.8 million, but that’s only provisional at this point. He and the Bears still would have until July to sign a long-term extension.
Poles said last week that he thought the sides were nearing an agreement and that negotiations were ‘‘going well.’’ He said the Bears made a ‘‘strong offer’’ in terms of total money and guaranteed money.
‘‘It takes two to tango, and you’ve gotta find a place that everyone feels comfortable,’’ Poles said. ‘‘I feel really good about that situation.’’
Spotrac projects Johnson’s market value to be $78.7 million over five years, an average of $15.7 million that would rank ninth among cornerbacks. That’s likely too low.
At 24, Johnson is the Bears’ best player at the position and a pillar of their future. He had a career-high four interceptions last season and made his first Pro Bowl. He was voted second-team All-Pro.
Pro Football Reference charted Johnson as allowing only 55.2% of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed and giving up two touchdowns last season. Opposing quarterbacks had a 50.9 passer rating when throwing to a receiver he was covering.
Pro Football Focus graded him as the best cornerback in the league.
‘‘I don’t think there’s anything I haven’t done since I walked into the building,’’ Johnson said last month. ‘‘There’s plenty of boxes I’ve checked.’’
If the Bears are able to secure Johnson, their outlook at cornerback — the only premium position they’ve definitively solidified — would be bright. They drafted nickel corner Kyler Gordon in the second round in 2022 and outside corner Tyrique Stevenson last year, and all three players are 24 or younger.
