PFF Trashes Jaylon Johnson While Putting Him on All-Rookie Team

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Rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson has been lauded for his play throughout the Bears season and has been included on the Pro Football Focus all-rookie mid-point team, although this must be taken with a grain of salt.

It's difficult to see how PFF can call itself an expert at grading football film and not include Kyle Fuller in the NFL's top 25 cornerbacks. In Week 7 an analysis of cornerbacks didn't include Fuller as a top 25 player, and they give him only a slightly  above-average grade for the year of 64.8

Johnson's inclusion on the all-rookie team came with a description criticizing him for having six penalties, double those of any other rookie and the third most at the position. For the season, PFF has given Johnson a relatively low 56.4 grade.

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More on-the-ball production for rookie CB Jaylon Johnson vs. TEN.

Matched up here vs. AJ Brown (top of the screen) — Challenge the break (with the shoulders square). And drive on the route.

Johnson leads the NFL with 12 PBUs (passes broken up). @NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/LyEddvTm5q

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) November 11, 2020

If PFF had actually looked closely at the film they would have found that two of the penalties were calls so bad a Pop Warner official wouldn't have made them. The call against Carolina near the goal line essentially gave the Panthers a TD and was nearly as bad as the call that kept New Orleans out of the Super Bowl in 2018.

PFF also cited Johnson's physical play as being the reason for penalties. He has the same number of pass interference penalties as Fuller (4), and three of his six penalties this year cost the Bears 5 total yards.

Johnson has been targeted the ninth most times and still has allowed 50% completions according to PFF, although numbers from Sportradar, the official league stat parter, say he's been targeted 52 times and allowed the same 25 receptions for 48%.

Johnson officially leads the NFL with 12 passes broken up.

It's been rare when Johnson has been out of position or embarrassed. He did get "trucked" on a tackle attempt against Detroit in his debut but in the same game was given a sky-high grade over 80 by PFF.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven