Detroit Lions fans have been circling the free agent cornerback market like a flock of vultures. The position is clearly one of the team’s biggest needs, and with some free agency money to spend, it’s easy to fantasize about the Lions snagging a young, talented cornerback when free agency opens in two weeks.
But news out the NFL Combine suggests two of the top options may never reach free agency in the first place. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson and Chiefs defender L’Jarius Sneed are widely considered the top two options in this year’s class, but after the general managers of each team spoke on Tuesday, it sounds like acquiring either of them will be difficult, if not impossible.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles said his expectation is to come to a deal with Johnson this offseason.
“Conversations are going well at this time,” Poles said. “We feel like we’ve done a really good job coming to the table strong, showing the respect that he’s due just in terms of his production through his career, and really an emphasis on the turnovers that he created this past year. Our expectation is that’s going to continue to go as he’s with the Bears.”
Of course, that’s only one side of the negotiations. It’s unclear how happy Johnson is with current negotiations. When Poles was asked if the team was prepared to use the franchise tag if they are not able to come to an agreement by the start of free agency, he said he’d prefer not to use it, but didn’t rule it out.
“I’d like to avoid the franchise tag for him,” Poles said. “I think we have a good space for us to find a middle ground. Again, we always have the tag to use, but I really would like to get something done long-term.”
If the Bears do place the franchise tag on Johnson, it would give Johnson the opportunity to negotiate with other teams. But if an outside team throws an offer at Johnson, the Bears would then get to choose to either match that offer or take two first-round picks from the offering team in exchange for letting Johnson sign.
