Following a breakout 2023 season, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson may have (rightfully) expected that he’d see his name on the NFL’s Top 100 players list for 2024.
But he expected wrong.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Utah product was selected by Chicago with the No. 50 pick in the second round of the 2020 Draft, following a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team run with the Utah Utes. He finally emerged with a superlative individual season for the Bears in 2023.
In 2023, Johnson notched 36 tackles (31 solo, five assisted), one forced fumble, four interceptions, 10 pass deflections, one defensive touchdown, and 0.5 stuffs a night.
Across his four-season career thus far, the 25-year-old Johnson has logged 161 total tackles, 41 pass deflections, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, and the aforementioned single defensive touchdown.
Johnson’s excellent play endeared him enough to Chicago that he earned a franchise tag earlier this offseason, and subsequently inked a four-season, $76 million extension.
Upon being informed that 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was included on this year’s list, but he had been omitted, Johnson vented his frustrations, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
#Bears All-Pro CB Jaylon Johnson on being left off the NFL’s Top 100 list:
“It’s bull****. There ain’t no way … Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play in the season and he was voted. … It’s disrespectful.”
(🎥 @dave_bfr)pic.twitter.com/rpQuCuIE7d
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 4, 2024
“It’s bull****,” Johnson remarked. “There ain’t no way. I don’t know how you make Pro Bowl and All-Pro and you’re not a top 100 guy. I could’ve been 101 I guess but Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play in the season and he was voted. I mean, hey, it ain’t just media that [does] it. Players, clearly, if they voted for this, they made some f****** mistakes. But it is what it is. I mean, any day I know the truth. And it’s okay, I’ve got some more for them.”
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Rodgers, a former 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time league MVP while with Chicago’s NFC North division rival the Green Bay Packers, played all of four snaps for New York before incurring a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in his left ankle.
“It’s disrespectful,” Johnson continued. “I know I go out there and line up and I know receivers go out there and can’t say that I’m not one of the best people.. they’ve played against. So whatever it is, it happened… Just to see it, ain’t no way 100 guys [are] better. And especially guys who didn’t play, who were hurt.”
The Bears’ offense is slated to get a major influx of talent this season. In addition to incumbent starting wide receiver DJ Moore, Chicago is adding six-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen and top-10 rookie draft pick Rome Odunze. But the marquee new name is No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner out of USC.
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