Trade Deadline: Bears Decide to Keep CB Jaylon Johnson

The Chicago Bears have decided not to move cornerback Jaylon Johnson at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, despite his request for them to do so, according to multiple media reports.

After a day of exploration, Jaylon Johnson is expected to stay in Chicago, sources say. https://t.co/1k8EsFp8gq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2023

Johnson reportedly asked for a trade after contract extension talks between him and the Bears fell apart. The Bears had reportedly been seeking Day 2 draft pick compensation for Johnson, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The fourth-year-pro drew a strong market, with the Steelers among four teams that reportedly showed a persistent interest in Johnson. The San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles were also in on the conversations surrounding the 24-year-old.

Johnson was the No. 50 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and 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.

The Steelers are reportedly in the market to add a cornerback. They have moved Joey Porter Jr. into the starting lineup at one cornerback spot, and could use the addition of another to shore up the other side, with Patrick Peterson either moving to slot cornerback or free safety, where starter Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss at least the team’s next game with a hamstring injury.

Peterson has played outside cornerback, slot cornerback and free safety so far in his first season with the Steelers, with head coach Mike Tomlin comparing his versatility to that of former Steelers defensive back Cam Sutton.

“Pat has been very versatile,” Tomlin said. “He displays really, really good football intellect. … When we lost Cam Sutton in free agency, that made him an attractive option because of his flexibility, positional flexibility and his football intellect that will allow him to move around and do some of the things that Cam was able to do when he was here.”

The Steelers could also be moving on from former starting outside cornerback Levi Wallace, who lost his job to Porter. Wallace missed the team’s last game with a foot injury, but it seems that he could be on the trade block. He made a cryptic post on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.

The Steelers could also be moving on from former starting outside cornerback Levi Wallace, who lost his job to Porter. Wallace missed the team’s last game with a foot injury, but it seems that he could be on the trade block. He made a cryptic post on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.

Levi Wallace on IG. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/IiE8xuheY3

— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) October 31, 2023

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 seasons.