Jaylon Johnson’s rough start has put the Bears in a spot where a trade no longer sounds far-fetched, but if Ryan Poles does decide to move him, there’s one destination Chicago should avoid at all costs: Detroit.
Johnson was a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback in 2023 and 2024, yet the version the Bears have gotten this season has looked nothing like that player. The decline has been especially noticeable since he suffered a soft-tissue injury last year, and through eight games, the results have been ugly enough to push his name into trade chatter.
The production tells the story. Johnson has 24 tackles, two pass deflections, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
He has also allowed a completion percentage of 73.7 and a passer rating of 124.3. Pro Football Focus has him at 38.1 overall, which ranks 97th out of 102 eligible cornerbacks.
His coverage grade sits at 32.1, good for 99th, while his run-defense grade is 71.3, which ranks 31st.
That kind of season would make almost any player available if the price is right, and the Bears are already being linked to cornerback help ahead of the trade deadline. Former Bears and current New York Jets cornerback Nahshon Wright has been one of the names floating around, and Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor is another.
If Chicago does add another corner, that could clear the path for Poles to move Johnson. And if that happens, the Lions are the team the Bears need to steer clear of.
Detroit makes sense as a suitor on paper. Avonte Maddox is on IR, and the secondary has also been hit by injuries to D.J.
Reed (hip) and Rock Ya-Sin (cramps). The Lions enter Week 9 with the league’s worst pass defense, giving up 276.6 yards per game, which is about 18 more than the Titans, who sit 31st.
That’s exactly why Chicago can’t be the team that helps them fix it. Even with Johnson struggling, the Bears would be making a huge mistake if they handed him to a division rival for anything less than a first- or second-round pick, and that kind of return doesn’t appear realistic.
So while a trade is on the table, the logic is simple: if the offers aren’t strong enough, the Bears are better off keeping Johnson and hoping he turns it around.
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