I had almost given up hope that the Chicago Bears would work out a long-term deal with WR Alshon Jeffery before the beginning of the season, but according to reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler the two sides have re-opened talks about an extension. Just weeks ago it appeared that the two sides were at an impasse and Jeffery was likely to play out the season under the one-year franchise tag.
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Weeks ago Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported that Jeffery’s decision to miss voluntary OTAs and work out on his own in Florida had pushed the Bears and Jeffery even farther apart in contract negotiations. It certainly didn’t seem to sit well with head coach John Fox who has made it very clear that he is looking for players who practically live at Halas Hall and Jeffery was the only key member of the team not there for OTAs. After a season where Jeffery only started eight games due to multiple lingering injuries and his offseason training regimen was questioned, Jeffery’s decision to skip voluntary workouts seemed like a clear signal that his long-term future with the Bears was in jeopardy.
After a season where Jeffery only started eight games due to multiple lingering injuries and his offseason training regimen was questioned, Jeffery’s decision to skip voluntary workouts seemed like a clear signal that his long-term future with the Bears was in jeopardy.
Fowler’s report that the Bears and Jeffery are talking again is the first good news on the situation fans have heard in a long time and I’m cautiously optimistic. The Bears have about three weeks left to get an extension done, which should be plenty of time if both sides genuinely want to get a deal hammered out.
Jeffery is scheduled to make $14.6M this year and if the Bears were to franchise him again next year, his price tag would jump 120% to $17.5M. Despite significant early season success, Jeffery hasn’t proven that he is worth elite receiver money quite yet. When he’s on the field he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but has missed 13 games so far in his four-season career.
The Bears are clearly worried about Jeffery’s ability to stay healthy consistently and on Jeffery’s side there may be some concerns as well. There are rumors that he prefers to play in a warm weather state closer to his home in South Carolina and also rumors that he wants to play for a more competitive team. I can’t blame him as the Bears have been bad for most of Jeffery’s career, but they showed legitimate signs of improvement last season.
The Bears chances of continuing to improve would be greatly enhanced by having a healthy Jeffery on the field all season. In just eight starts last year, Jeffery put up 807 receiving yards and four TDs. Over the last three seasons, Jeffery has averaged six catches, 88 yards, and .55 TDs per start.
He’s one of the best WRs in the league when healthy and could team with last year’s #7 overall pick, Kevin White, to give the Bears one of the most dangerous receiving combinations in the league. Losing Jeffery after the 2016 season would set the Bears rebuild back, so I’m hoping the two sides can come to an agreement on a reasonable long-term deal over the next couple weeks.