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Bears general manager Ryan Poles has made one thing unmistakably clear about cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s contract situation: He’s not letting him leave.
The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag on pending free agents is Tuesday at 3 p.m., so unless the Poles and Johnson agree on a contract extension, the Bears will have to use that option.
It would put Johnson on a one-year deal for $19.8 million, but that’s only provisional at this point. He and the Bears would still have until July to sign a long-term extension.