It's the offseason and that means it's the time of year when players talk more freely, sometimes like they're GMs or coaches.
Jaylon Johnson, never one to hide what he feels anyway, had two interesting points of interest for Bears GM Ryan Poles while he made an appearance Wednesday on Keyshawn Johnson's new Fox Sports podcast "All Facts, No Brakes."
The first was about quarterback Justin Fields. Players want him back with the team. They've been saying this all along but Johnson made it entirely clear what Fields means to them.
-Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson
"I think just going in and saying, 'oh well, just get rid of him, he's not the answer,' I don't think that's it," Jaylon Johnson told Keyshawn Johnson. "I think that's kind of taking the easy way out and making the coaches not take accountability because I think the coaches have a big part in developing the quarterback. And I think that he hasn't had an opportunity to truly be developed yet, but now (is) going on his third coordinator now in his fourth year.
"So I think honestly, just, it's about the people around him right now. I think it starts with his quarterback coach. It starts with the offensive coordinator just teaching and molding and building him into being that quarterback."
Johnson said Fields needs something else besides the chance to develop with a good offensive coach.
"So I think it's really about that part first and I think you get some dogs around him, some O-line that can consistently hold up, I think a good run game," he said. "Receivers, we got DJ (Moore) and we're building some things on offense but we definitely need more, I feel like, as far as playmakers and guys to put him in the best position."
Johnson said the criticism Fields received at times during the season brought the team closer together.
"Honestly I think it made us play a little harder," Johnson said on the podcast. "I think it made us kind of gel together because, like I said, we know what we had in that locker room. I think everybody from the outside in tries to paint a picture and kind of make you feel like that's the trurth and, no, we know the truth about Justin. We know the truth about the circumstances that he's been put in and I think for us we try to go out there and back him up each and every week."
The support for Fields within the locker room has been apparent all year and is one factor Poles said he must take into account when he decides what to do with the first pick in the draft. However, he also said he needs to push emotion aside when he makes the decision.
Johnson had another note for Poles. This is about their coming contract negotiation prior to free agency or the use of a franchise/transition tag on Johnson.
"I feel like there's no reason why I can't be the highest-paid corner in the league," Johnson said. "And I feel like that's what I'm aiming for and I feel like that's what I'm shooting for."
Johnson really never spelled it out that way in the past. Jaire Alexander of the Packers is the highest-paid cornerback in terms of average contract value at $21 million a year.
"I got All-Pro, I got Pro Bowl, I mean what else is there for me to get?" Johnson said. "So I feel like I'm definitely deserving of the highest paid position. So, I mean, I'm going to go in and the ball's really in my court."
The Bears can use a franchise tag for $18.8 million in 2024 to retain Johnson if they can't come to an agreement, and then continue negotiating if they choose.
Johnson finished as Pro Football Focus' highest-graded NFL cornerback last year when he made a career-high four interceptions and was second team All-Pro.
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