The Bears on Tuesday placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Players who receive a non-exclusive franchise tag can sign with another club, though their original team can match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they choose not to match the deal.
Players who receive a franchise tag are assured of a one-year contract for a salary that’s determined by a complex formula that includes the average of the five highest-paid players at the same position over the previous five seasons or 120 percent of their previous year’s salary, whichever is higher.
Players who receive a franchise tag may negotiate a long-term contract with their teams through July 15. If no new deal is reached by that deadline, they cannot sign a multi-year extension until after the season.
Players who receive a franchise tag have until the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season to sign their one-year tender.
NFL teams are permitted to use only one franchise or transition tag per year on a player who is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the beginning of the new league year.
Johnson, 24, was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah. He has started all 53 games he’s played over four seasons, registering 161 tackles, five interceptions, 41 pass breakups, four tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
This past season the 6-foot, 196-pounder was voted second-team All-Pro and named to his first career Pro Bowl. He recorded 36 tackles, a career-high four interceptions—one of which he returned 39 yards for his first career touchdown—10 pass breakups, one tackle-for-loss and one forced fumble.
