Cowboys Trade Target Jaylon Johnson Wants OUT of Chicago Bears; Can Dallas 'Rent' CB?

Cowboys Trade Target Jaylon Johnson Wants OUT of Chicago Bears; Can Dallas 'Rent' CB?

FRISCO - Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is now firmly on the trade back as the Tuesday NFL deadline approaches, as contract negotiations in Chicago have reportedly broken down ... leading to Johnson having been given permission to seek a trade, according to multiple reports.

Is this where the Dallas Cowboys enter the picture in earnest?

Sources have detailed to CowboysSI.com the Cowboys' desire to bolster their defense in a deal that makes fiscal sense. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been featured on the short list of teams that "have interest'' in the the 24-year-old Johnson, a second-round pick in 2020 who is in the final year of his rookie contract.

Jaylon Johnson

Report: Cowboys ‘Have Interest’ in Trade for Bears CB

Are there some puzzle pieces that fit? Indeed, and there are more ... It has been suggested to CowboysSI.com that Dallas might be wishing to do something unorthodox in a trade due to its future cap commitments to the likes of Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb.

Conventionally, in a trade for a player like Johnson, his new team not only gives the present employer compensation in value (picks and or player), but also gives the trade target a new contract. What if instead Dallas - recognizing how Johnson and the Bears have been far apart in negotiations on an extension - simply acknowledge that gap, don't bother closing it, and trade for Johnson as a "rental''?

Just as right now the Bears think he’s going to leave in free agency in March, meaning maybe they want a blockbuster package for him now, Dallas can recognize that Johnson (presently making $3 million) is worth $20 million APY (or whatever he might be asking) and that he can go chase that on the open market ... next spring.

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The potential compensatory pick that Dallas would get would ease the long-term pain of losing him. (As would the 2024 return from season-ending injury of Trevon Diggs.) But the immediate reward for employing him now? He'd man one boundary and Stephon Gilmore the other, with DaRon Bland moving back into the slot ... and Dallas' "Doomsday'' defense would be one step closer to the ultimate goal.