Jaylon Johnson Dropped From ESPN Top 10 Cornerbacks List

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson once ranked among the league’s elite at his position but now finds himself on the outside looking in. He was a staple at the top of the Bears defense for several seasons, drawing buzz for his potential under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Injuries have kept him off the field, limiting him to just seven games in the 2025 campaign and tainting his availability heading into the offseason.

A high‑price premium on cornerbacks in today’s NFL has made Johnson’s recent health struggles especially costly. When the Bears could not rely on him consistently, his standing slipped in the eyes of evaluators and fans alike. The latest blow came when ESPN released its annual list of the top 10 cornerbacks, leaving Johnson as an honorable‑mention name rather than a top‑tier inclusion.

How He Stacks Up Against Today’s Elite

ESPN’s current Top 10 includes some of the league’s most recognizable names. Leading the pack is Pat Surtain of the Broncos, followed by Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans), Christian Gonzalez (Patriots), Devon Witherspoon (Seahawks), and Trent McDuffie (Rams). The list also features Quinyon Mitchell (Eagles), Denzel Ward (Browns), Jaycee Horn (Panthers), Sauce Gardner (Colts), and Cooper DeJean (Eagles). Johnson’s omission places him well below this group, a stark contrast to the earlier expectations that he could contend for a top spot.

• Pat Surtain – Denver Broncos
• Derek Stingley Jr. – Houston Texans
• Christian Gonzalez – New England Patriots
• Devon Witherspoon – Seattle Seahawks
• Trent McDuffie – Los Angeles Rams
• Quinyon Mitchell – Philadelphia Eagles
• Denzel Ward – Cleveland Browns
• Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers
• Sauce Gardner – Indianapolis Colts
• Cooper DeJean – Philadelphia Eagles

The slide‑show below captures a series of moments from the Bears’ 2026 minicamp, offering a visual reminder of the system Ben Johnson’s squad is building around its talent. These images provide context for the environment in which Johnson hopes to reclaim his top‑form status.

Here’s what an NFL personnel evaluator told ESPN about Johnson: “Time on task has been an issue. He missed a lot of camp and game action. But he’s young (27), so he should be able to get back to his top form. He’s got juice when he’s full tilt.”

Johnson’s health and availability is crucial to the Bears defense this season, as well as his teammate in the secondary, Kyler Gordon. Allen did the best he could with plenty of injury replacements across the entire defense last season, and although the Bears led the NFL in takeaways last year, they also were a very susceptible defense allowing big plays and plenty of points.

If Johnson and Gordon can get back to their normal standard of play and clean health, Chicago’s defense should get a big boost in the secondary.