Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
Getty
Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
The Chicago Bears are the most cash-strapped team in the league less than four weeks ahead of the NFL draft, and a blockbuster trade involving arguably their best defender could set the franchise up with the financial and draft capital it needs to get deeper and better across the entire roster.
That is the argument that John Kosko of Pro Football Focus made earlier this month when he named $76 million cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler over the past three seasons, as Chicago’s top trade asset.
Johnson is three years removed from an elite season that earned him a massive contract extension. He followed that campaign by ranking fifth among cornerbacks in PFF advanced coverage grade. However, in 2025, he fell outside the top 32 as the entire secondary struggled with consistency when not generating turnovers.
Trading Johnson would free up cap space while also bringing back valuable draft capital for Chicago to invest in the offensive line or skill positions. His proven NFL production and positional value should still make him a solid return in any potential deal.
Nagging Groin Injury Disrupted Jaylon Johnson’s 2025 Campaign
Jaylon Johnson
GettyCornerback Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears.
Johnson, who will play his age-27 campaign in 2026, is under contract for two more years and battled lingering groin issues throughout last season.
The reality of his 2025 campaign renders Johnson’s trade value somewhat confusing, as his health issues interrupted and impacted his play to the point that he finished ranked 71st out of 114 cornerbacks who saw enough snaps to qualify in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He played just 282 total defensive snaps last year.
That lack of production and short-term durability should pull his trade value downward. But the premium nature of the position and the need for it across several contenders, or hopeful contenders, in 2026 should pull Johnson’s return potential the other direction.
Just within the NFC North Division, both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers could use help at cornerback. The Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs are also among a long list of teams with meaningful need in the secondary.
Bears Already Thin on Talent, Depth in Secondary
Kevin Byard
GettyFormer Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III.
Chicago’s problem, however, is that it is also thin in the secondary and moving on from Johnson will only exacerbate that situation.
The Bears lost Pro Bowl cornerback Nahshon Wright to a one-year deal worth a paltry $3.5 million from the New York Jets in free agency, then said goodbye to four safeties, including 17-game starter Jaquan Brisker and first-team All-Pro Kevin Byard III.
Chicago added safety Coby Bryant in free agency and the return of Kyler Gordon to full health after an injury-marred campaign will almost certainly prove a boon at the nickel back position. Still, the Bears are candidates to draft a safety with the No. 25 pick, assuming the team doesn’t go with a defensive tackle or edge-rusher in that spot.
They also hold selections at Nos. 57 and 60 in Round 2, where the team is likely to continue its focus on defensive talent after spending the first three draft picks in 2025 on offensive players.
If Chicago does decide to shop Johnson, it will need at least a couple of mid-round assets in return to help round out the secondary and beef up a defensive front that needs reinforcements on the edge and the interior.
Trading Johnson with a post-June 1 designation will also free up $15.5 million, which can help the Bears add a left tackle like Taylor Decker to the fold with Ozzy Trapilo likely to miss most of 2026 due to a knee injury.