The NFL’s list of 100 best players, as voted on by the players, is out — and it does not include Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
This is what looks like:
For what it’s worth, the Bears weren’t shut out from the top 100. Defensive end Montez Sweat made the cut, checking in at No. 82. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is on the list, too. The veteran wideout came in at No. 53 and is the team’s highest-ranking offensive player on the list. Allen still ranking highly is a sure sign of respect for his veteran status. And Sweat making it for the first time is a nod to his climb as a pro. But Jaylon Johnson being left off entirely is a big, fat whiff. One that I don’t think CB1 will take lightly.
Jaylon Johnson finds new motivation in NFL Top 100 snub
When Jaylon Johnson met with the media on Sunday at Halas Hall, he wasn’t pleased with his glaring omission from the NFL top 100 list. the most notable quotes from Jaylon:
“Everybody makes mistakes, it ain’t just the media that do it. Players clearly– if they voted for it– they made some god damn mistakes. But it is what it is. At the end of the day I know the truth and it’s alrigh𒁏t.”
“It’s disrespectful because I go out there,ꦆ line up and I know receivers go ou🦩t there and can’t say that I’m not one of the best players that they play against. Ain’t no way there are 100 guys who are better.”
It sure seems like Jaylon Johnson is miffed by his peers not voting him on the list — and I can’t say I blame him.
Voting tends to happen toward the end of the year. But based on how the Bears’ defense was playing, you’d think that might’ve garnered some votes for Johnson. Heck, Johnson’s play — in isolation — should’ve netted him a ton of support. Jaylon Johnson was the best corner on a top-half-of-the-league defensive unit who played his best ball down the stretch. And he did it in a contract year. How Johnson didn’t get enough votes to make it onto the top 100 list is beyond me. Sure, Jaylon is right to point out that everybody makes mistakes. But how does this one come about?
Part of it is a numbers game. Only five cornerbacks (Jalen Ramsey, DaRon Bland, Sauce Gardner, Patrick Surtain II, and Tariq Woolen) made the list. Those are some quality cornerbacks. But that isn’t a viable excuse to have kept Jaylon Johnson out of the top 100. Remember, Johnson had a breakout campaign in which he set new career highs in interceptions (4) and had his most passes defended (10) since his rookie season in 2020. Plus, Johnson was durable, playing on 91 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. All of this added up to Johnson making a trip to the Pro Bowl and en route to earning the top grade among corners from Pro Football Focus.
I fully expect Jaylon Johnson to take this slight to heart. And he should. This is bogus and a blatant sign of disrespect from his peers. And it is probably one he didn’t see coming after having the year he had in 2023. Keep in mind that, Johnson’s inspiration since his rookie season was every cornerback who was taken before him in the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite being a second-round pick, Jaylon has proven to be the best of that bunch — and has been paid handsomely for his efforts.
In the end, Bears fans know what it looks like when a motivated Jaylon Johnson suits up on the Bears’ defense. And soon enough, opposing receivers will receive a reminder. Maybe then they’ll be more mindful when they vote again in 2024.
