Jaylon Johnson Disrespected in CBS Top 100 — Bears Land Just Two Players

Jun 3, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney (62) looks on during minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Bears traded for Thuney and then signed him to an extension for a reason. He's a reliable guard who was forced to play left tackle for the Chiefs last year and still held his own. (Last season: No. 86)

While guard isn't considered a 'high profile' position, it's odd to have the second-best guard, per PFF, as the 55th-best player in the NFL. Thuney's value to the Bears will undoubtedly be higher than this ranking, as he should provide some experience and stability to the line, making everyone around him better. The only guards ranked higher than Thuney are Chris Lindstrom (43) and Quinn Meinerz (51). Meinerz is listed as a center, despite playing his entire NFL career at guard.

(71) Jaylon Johnson

Johnson didn't play as well in 2024 as he did in 2023, but he remains a top cover player. He was showing elite skills two years ago, so the talent is certainly there. (Last season: No. 34)

The Jaylon Johnson disrespect needs to stop. Prisco cites a dip in play from his 2023 season as the reason Johnson fell from 34 down to 71. While his interception numbers were down, his tackles and especially tackles for loss increased substantially. Johnson's passes defended (10) in 2023 decreased to eight in 2024, indicating that despite not having as many interceptions, he was still around the ball. Additionally, he carries weight as a vocal leader on the Bears defense.

PFF recently listed Johnson as the 4th-best CB in football, but Prisco ranked him as the 9th-best player at his position. Players rank ahead of Johnson on the CBS list are Patrick Surtain II (9), Derek Stingley Jr. (23), Sauce Gardner (24), Trent McDuffie (46), Christian Gonzalez (62), Brian Branch (65), Marlon Humphrey (68), and Quinyon Mitchell (69). Not only did CBS disrespect his ranking, but they also used an incorrect picture in a now-deleted tweet. Jaylon Jones, come on down.

2026 Predictions

The Bears went from having three players on the 2024 list to having two players on the 2025 version. With a new coaching staff, it's reasonable to think they could add a few more playmakers next year. In addition to Thuney and Johnson, let's take a look at some other candidates.

Darnell Wright

During the last two years with Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell finished 17th and 21st on the 2023 and 2024 lists. Now with Johnson as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, he could have a similar effect on Darnell Wright. His 82.2 PFF run-blocking grade ranked ninth at the position, while his 79.3 PFF overall grade placed 16th. PFF ranked Wright as the  26th-best offensive tackle entering 2025, but Wright performed better than that down the stretch last season. If Wright takes another step forward in year 3, he should find himself creeping into the top 100.

Colston Loveland

Could the Bears' 2025 first-round pick crack into the top 100 after only one season? There is no reason to count him out. Under Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta made the list (58) after his rookie season with a stat line of 86 catches and 10 touchdowns. Johnson will look to utilize Loveland's athleticism and route-running ability in a similar manner.

Caleb Williams

Only 14 quarterbacks made the 2025 list after 18 appeared the year before. That means if Williams can work his way up into the top third of quarterbacks in the league, he has a real shot of making the list next year. The lowest-rated quarterback on the list was Jordan Love (92). Love finished with 3.389 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 15 games. Williams should be able to match those numbers, even while learning a new offense. So long as Williams and Johnson are on the same page, the stats should follow.