The Chicago Bears are seeking one or two second-day draft picks in exchange for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, according to a report by Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
Johnson was himself a mid-second-round pick at No. 50 overall when the Bears selected him out of Utah in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The fourth-year pro is having a career season. Pro Football Focus graded him as the best cornerback in the NFL through the first seven weeks of the season. He has two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, four passes defended and 18 tackles on the season.
Talks between the Bears and Johnson about a contract extension have been in the works, but have broken down in recent days, leading to his trade request. The 24-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
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The Steelers are reportedly in the market to add a cornerback. They will have to decide whether spending a second or third-round pick on a rental player will be worth it as they sit at 4-3 after seven games this season. There is also the possibility that they could work out a contract extension with Johnson as part of the trade.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles might also be feeling a little snakebit when dealing with Omar Khan, as the Steelers landed pick No. 32 from the Bears for wide receiver Chase Claypool at the trade deadline last year.
Claypool was a disaster for the Bears, and they turned around and traded him to the Miami Dolphins this season along with a seventh-round pick and got just a sixth-round pick in return.
The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Steelers have been active at the deadline in each of the last three season.