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Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson made his thoughts perfectly clear regarding the NFL Network top 100 players list that was revealed before the 2024 season.
He told reporters it was “bulls–t” and “disrespectful” that he was not included on the list.
“I dunno how you make Pro Bowl, All-Pro and (are) not a Top 100 guy,” he continued. “I could’ve been 101 … Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play in the season and he was voted (in).”
While preseason lists like this don’t matter when the games start on the field, it should be noted that the players themselves vote for the top 100. Johnson was clearly upset his fellow peers didn’t rank him among the league’s best.
It was far from the only notable development in the top 100, as Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was ranked as the No. 1 overall player ahead of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at No. 2.
Jackson is the reigning MVP, but it was still shocking to see him ahead of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 4.
After all, Mahomes has won three of the last five Super Bowls and has already cemented himself on the short list of the best quarterbacks in the history of the sport. His Chiefs have advanced to at least the AFC Championship Game in each of his six seasons as a full-time starter and reached four Super Bowls during that span.
The rest of the league is playing catch up when it comes to Mahomes and the Chiefs, although he is apparently the one playing catch up on this list.
So is Johnson, who did not make the top 100 despite his Pro Bowl season in 2023. He finished the campaign with 36 tackles, 10 passes defended, four interceptions, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown.
Pro Football Focus gave him a sparkling overall player grade of 90.8, which was by far the best mark of his career.
His incredible season likely made the decision from the Bears to sign him to a four-year contract extension this offseason a rather easy one even though his long-term future with the team was once far from a sure thing when Chicago gave him permission to seek a trade in October.
Alas, the Bears made sure he isn’t going anywhere with the deal and may even get a more motivated version of the cornerback in 2024 after he was left off the top 100 list.
If that’s the case, Johnson will likely be on the list in 2025.
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