The deadline for the Chicago Bears to lock up their biggest downfield threat came and went this Friday afternoon: Alshon Jeffery will play under the franchise tag in 2016.
Advertisement
Jeffery and the Bears’ failure to strike an agreement comes hours after Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller signed an NFL-record $70 million guaranteed contract. But the Bears will have plenty of time to negotiate with Jeffery exclusively, if they so desire, before free agency begins in March. Jeffery was unwilling to accept a contract that would pay him as anything less than an elite receiver-$14+ million per year and $25+ million guaranteed approximately, based on top WR salaries-while the Bears were unwilling to invest such significant money in him yet due to his injury history.
What all parties ultimately want, regardless of the business side of the equation, is a healthy, productive season from Jeffery. If he absolutely rocks the 2016 season, he and the Bears could try to hammer out a long term contract, but the Bears would have the option of slapping the franchise tag on him again, only this time it will guarantee Jeffery about $17.5 million. The Bears view Jeffery as part of their future, but were reluctant to reward him with a deal that puts in the upper echelon at his position.
Jeffery clearly is betting on himself by not agreeing to a long-term deal. After missing voluntary workouts earlier in the summer, the 4th-year wide receiver attended mandatory minicamp and is not expected to hold out of training camp at all. He had three straight 100-yard receiving games against Detroit, Minnesota and San Diego.
During the 2015 season, Jeffery caught 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns. Plus, Jeffery chose to skip the voluntary portion of Chicago’s offseason program to train in South Florida, further ramping up the pressure on him to avoid injuries in the fall.
Advertisement
“I’ll let my game take care of itself”, Jeffery said last month.
