Because the Bears reportedly used the non-exlusive franchise tag on Jeffery, he will be able to negotiate with other teams. Multiple reports have said that Jeffery and the Bears have discussed a long-term contract, though it’s unclear how close the sides came in their negotiations before Chicago made a decision to use the franchise tag ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
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The Chicago Bears announced Monday they will place the franchise tag on star receiver Alshon Jeffery, a move that had been anticipated since last week.
After the Bears traded Brandon Marshall to the Jets last March, it appeared that Jeffery was primed to become the team’s No. 1 receiver. And if another team ultimately signed Jeffery, that organization would also have to send the Bears two first-round draft picks as compensation. The year before they franchised running back Matt Forte. Briggs played the 2007 season under the tag before agreeing to a six-year deal the following offseason. The 26-year-old had 54 catches for 807 yards and four touchdowns in an injury shortened season. Of course, locking in long-term security up front is important when you play a sport as violent and unsafe as football, so Jeffery and his reps will presumably engage the Bears in attempts to hammer out a long-term deal that sets him up to be paid, and paid well, for a long time. He also tied a franchise record with three straight 100-yard receiving games against Detroit, Minnesota and San Diego.
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The former SC receiver is one of five players in Bears franchise history with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, accomplishing the feat in 2013 (1,421 yards) and 2014 (1,133 yards).
