Despite not having a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears were able to snag two first-round talents in tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round.
Both selections addressed a need on the roster, and both Kmet and Johnson are expected to see significant playing time as rookies. NFL.com’s Dan Parr examined 25 rookies poised for success in 2020, and Johnson was among them.
Artie Burns and Kevin Toliver are the other options to start opposite Kyle Fuller. In other words, the Bears need Johnson to step up and win that job. The good news is he’s up to the task. Perhaps his history of shoulder surgeries — the most recent one coming in March — scared some teams off and explains why he was available late in Round 2 (50th overall) after many had him pegged as a first-round pick.
Regardless, it’s a great value for a Chicago secondary that gets a feisty corner with the toughness, strength and instincts the team covets. Bears fans shouldn’t have to worry about whether Johnson can defend the island, as the former Ute has shown he can more than hold his own in single coverage over the past couple seasons, recording the FBS’ fifth-best passer rating when targeted (51.4) and the second-best explosive play rate allowed (10.9%), per Pro Football Focus.
Johnson was pegged by many as a top-three cornerback in the NFL Draft, but there were teams concerned by his shoulder injuries that passed on him, which allowed him to fall to general manager Ryan Pace in the second round.
The Bears are looking for a starting right cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller, and Johnson appears to be the clear-cut favorite to win the job in 2020, where he’ll compete with the likes of Kevin Toliver, Tre Roberson and Artie Burns, among others.
There were six cornerbacks taken ahead of Johnson in the 2020 NFL Draft, and it’s a chip that he carries on his shoulders. He’s determined to prove those teams wrong while also aiming to accomplish some significant milestones in his rookie season, including winning the starting job, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and winning a Super Bowl.
