While Chicago has one of the worst defenses in football for the second consecutive year, Johnson likely isn’t in the team’s long-term plans. For as much as the Bears want to keep their top defensive back, his expiring contract and the cost of rising salaries for the highest-paid NFL cornerbacks have forced Chicago to explore a potential trade.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday night that Johnson formally requested a trade out of Chicago. The Bears’ front office attempted to sign the standout cornerback to a contract extension, but the two sides never made any tangible progress last week.

Chicago is very willing to move Johnson at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Bears informed Johnson his agent is allowed to begin discussions with other teams. Chris Ellison, Johnson’s agent, now has less than 15 hours to try and find him a new home.

With Johnson now available, following previous Bears trade rumors suggesting he would stay in Chicago, his trade market should ramp up quickly. Considering the absence of high-end cornerbacks on the trade market, the Bears should have success receiving quality offers on Tuesday.

Jaylon Johnson immediately becomes one of the best players available at the NFL trade deadline. Entering NFL games today, Johnson is credited with allowing just a 37.3 QB rating in coverage on 26 targets thrown in his direction (PFF). Furthermore, Pro Football Reference tracks him as allowing just a 47.8 percent completion rate in coverage this season.

Simply put, Johnson is the caliber of player who would be the missing piece for a defense and could potentially put them over the top.

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SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah Utes cornerback Jaylon Johnson requested a trade from the Chicago Bears ahead of the league’s 2023 deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“#Bears corner Jaylon Johnson has requested a trade, per source,” Fowler posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Chicago granted permission to search for a new home before today’s trade deadline. The player and team negotiated a new contract last week but couldn’t come close to a deal. So, a talented corner is now available.”

Johnson is currently in the final year of his rookie deal. The Bears haven’t addressed Johnson’s status with a new contract ahead of 2024.

During the summer, the Bears signed tight end Cole Kmet to a contract extension. With Kmet locked in for the future, Johnson’s contract situation rose up Chicago’s to-do list.

“I had a player come up to me after practice and said, ‘Hey, you sent a ton of energy through the locker room because you guys are taking care of the guys in there,’” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said after locking up Kmet. “And it was really cool.”

Like Kmet, Poles said that Johnson is a player the Bears want to “keep here for a while.”

“I’d say like the relationship’s good,” the general manager said of Johnson. “He’s out showing that he can perform at a high level and becoming the player that he wants to be and improve. So that’s all I can really say about that.”

After Poles’ comments, Johnson addressed his future with the Bears.

“The way I see it is, I’ve still got a lot to earn,” Johnson said in July. “I feel like I’ve still got a lot to prove…I’m going to come out here each and every day and work, and then whatever comes from that, comes from that.”

The cornerback added that there was “no question” that he’d play in 2023 as opposed to sitting out. Johnson said that his contract situation is something he believes is “just something that you just wait your turn.”

“Definitely just something I am looking forward to seeing where it goes,” the former Ute said.