Chicago Bears sign DB Anthony Johnson Jr

Anthony Johnson Jr's one-year, $1.145M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a depth move priced appropriately for mid-tier defensive back depth in the current market. At the DB position during an offseason window, this deal is neither a bargain nor an overpay—it slots comfortably into the replacement-level-to-solid-starter salary band where teams absorb modest risk on players fighting for roster spots or safety valve roles. The single-year structure offers maximum flexibility: if Johnson Jr produces, the Bears can extend him cheaply or evaluate him in a live game setting without long-term cap obligation; if he doesn't, the deal evaporates with zero dead money. This is the kind of low-commitment, high-optionality transaction that contending rosters use to shore up secondary depth during the offseason, particularly with regular season play 91 days away. The CVI verdict reflects a fair market price for the role and term—neither a steal that suggests front-office acumen nor an albatross that hamstrings future flexibility. For a Bears team currently positioned as the NFC North's second seed, this represents disciplined roster management: plug a gap without mortgaging future cap or draft capital.