After a career year with 36 tackles, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), ten passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was named to the Second Team Al-Pro Team.
The First Team All-Pro corners were DaRon Bland from the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets’ Sauce Gardner, and the other Second Team corner was Charvarius Ward from the San Francisco 49ers.
It could be argued that Johnson was the best cornerback in the NFL this year, but he’ll have to settle for the Second Team and his first Pro Bowl nod in his contract year.
Check out these numbers from the top cornerbacks this season from Pro Football Focus.
Johnson was eligible for a contract extension last offseason, but nothing happened. A trade demand also went public this season, but now it seems he’s likely to return to Chicago.
Bears’ general manager Ryan Poles has indicated he plans to keep his 24-year-old defender, and Johnson himself said he believes a deal will get done. If it comes down to it, Chicago does have the franchise tag to apply, but if both sides genuinely want a deal, then it shouldn’t come to that.
Here’s how the cornerback voting for All-Pro went, courtesy of the Tribune’s Brad Biggs.