Chicago Bears: 5 Breakout players to watch when training camp begins

1. Jaylon Johnson, Cornerback

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson had an impressive rookie season. Opposing teams picked on him early in the season but he stepped up and performed well. Quarterbacks completed only 56 percent of their passes when targeting him. He had 44 tackles and 15 passes defended.

The injury bug hit Johnson later in the season, however. He missed the last three games of the season during a playoff push. When the Bears did make the playoffs, Johnson was unable to play in the game.

Johnson had much to build on, though. He showed how good he could really be. When opposing quarterbacks target you as much as they did Johnson, that means they don’t have much respect for your game. He came up big at times and showed he could play well in the NFL.

Of course, Johnson had his growing pains, just like most rookies. He allowed five touchdowns against him. Also, he gave up some big plays. If you erase the big plays, his numbers would be phenomenal. Unfortunately, however, you cannot do that. Additionally, he finished the season without any interceptions.

With Fuller out of the picture now, Johnson has a chance to become the top cornerback for the Bears. The team signed Desmond Trufant and he is a pretty good cornerback. However, he’s dealt with injuries as of late, having played in only 15 games in the past two seasons. Furthermore, he only signed for one year and he’ll be 31 this season. Johnson is the future of the defense and he’ll have his chance to show it.

If Johnson and Graham Jr. end up playing well, they’ll give the Chicago Bears a young and athletic duo for years to come.