With the Bears having the most cap space in the league, they may want to look into extending some homegrown talent. The most realistic options include three players from the teams 2020 Draft Class: cornerback Jaylon Johnson, wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and tight end Cole Kmet. All three have proven they deserve extensions. It’s up to Ryan Poles to determine if they are worth the money they are asking for. Today, let’s project the contracts we could see them receive.
Darnell Mooney: 4 years, $60 million
The wide receiver market was flipped upside down last March when Christain Kirk signed an $18 million per year deal with the Jaguars. When talks of an extension for Darnell Mooney come up soon, he’s going to want a similar deal. I think $15 million per-year is a realistic number for Mooney. Many will question if he’s worth it. He’s a young wide receiver with a lot of talent, and that’s what it takes to extend players like him in 2023.
Mooney has been a diamond in the rough since he was drafted in the 5th round in 2020. He’s been together with Fields for two years now, and keeping that connection intact will only benefit the Bears. In 2021 he put up his first 1,000 yard season. We’ve all seen his ability on deep routes to go up and make a play. He’s special. It’s unknown what the Bears wide receiver room will look like down the road, but no doubt Mooney should be a part of it. He needs more talent around him to open things up. Hopefully Chase Claypool can step up, and we’ll definitely see the Bears make a move to add to the position group this offseason.
Jaylon Johnson: 4 years, $55 million
Johnson has proven he’s a solid cornerback in the NFL. I think around $13 million per year is just right. The top cornerbacks in the league like Jaire Alexander and Denzel Ward are getting paid around $20 million per year. While Jaylon is good, he isn’t with the elites right now. Something that does come into question is Johnson’s durability. He missed three games in 2020, and seven in 2022. That’s a decision Ryan Poles will have to make, but if we’re judging his play, he’s worth the extension
With no help from the pass rush last season, Johnson only allowed 27 completions on 46 targets. In 2021, it was 41 receptions on 72 targets. Not bad at all. Johnson has proven he’s worth the extension. He’s great at jumping routes, and does a good job containing top tier receivers. He’s been one of the few bright spots on this defense, and hopefully he can continue to be that for years to come.
Cole Kmet: 3 years, $21 million
Cole Kmet had a nice little break out this season. He put up 544 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. A nice surprise as he struggled to get going in 2020 and 2021. It would be a good idea for the Bears to get ahead of the game, and give him an extension now.
$7 million per year is a good price for both sides. Kmet is on the come up. He’s still only 23, and if he puts up another season like he did in 2022, he may be worth more. If they can agree to a small deal like this, there’s good chance it pays off.
While Ryan Pace made some questionable picks in his tenure, he nailed this 2020 Draft class. All three of these guys have been the few bright spots of this Bears roster. At least one of them will likely get extended this coming March, it just depends on who.
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