Jaylon Johnson approaching 2026 like a contract year

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson isn't shying away from the reality of his contract situation, saying he'll approach the 2026 season with the urgency of a player entering free agency. Although Johnson remains under contract, he acknowledged the financial implications surrounding his deal and understands he must prove he remains one of the NFL's premier defensive backs. "This is definitely a contract year," Johnson said. "We all know with the cap hit and all that stuff. It's definitely a contract year for me. At the end of the day, whether that's here, somewhere else, I've got to put it on tape that I'm still a top guy in this league." Johnson is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season that limited him to 406 defensive snaps, his fewest since becoming a full-time starter. When healthy, however, he has consistently established himself as one of the league's top cover corners.