Jaylon Johnson didn’t crack ESPN’s top 10 cornerbacks list, but he still got enough respect from league insiders to land in the honorable mention group - and that says plenty about where he stands after a rough 2025.
ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler spoke with multiple league executives, coaches and scouts for their views on the position. One of the responses made the case for Johnson’s upside while also pointing directly at the reason he slipped out of the top tier: "Time on task has been an issue.
He missed a lot of camp and game action. But he's young (27), so he should be able to get back to his top form.
He's got juice when he's full tilt."
That evaluation fits the shape of Johnson’s season. He missed 10 games with a lower leg injury and never really found his rhythm after returning. In seven games, he finished with 17 tackles, two pass deflections and one interception, while allowing a career-high 72.7% completion percentage in coverage.
For Bears fans, the bigger takeaway is that Johnson is still viewed as a corner who can climb back into the league’s elite group. He made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2024, and before last season he was already being talked about as one of the NFL’s top 10 corners. Even after the injury-hit year, he remained in the conversation.
There are signs he’s headed in the right direction. OTA reports said Johnson was making big plays, including an interception of quarterback Caleb Williams.
That matters for a Chicago defense that still has questions in the secondary. Kyler Gordon was the other major cornerback injury, and his soft tissue issue has not improved. Gordon may not be ready by training camp, which would leave the Bears with even more uncertainty back there.
Chicago is aiming for a bigger 2026 after reaching the NFC Divisional Round, and if the Bears are going to take the next step toward the Super Bowl, Johnson will need to look like the Pro Bowl version of himself again.
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