2015 was the polar opposite of a contract year performance for Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery. The 25-year-old Pro Bowler was hurt for much of the season, appearing in just nine games and registering 807 receiving yards and four touchdowns, his lowest such totals since he was a rookie. But none of that has changed the team’s outlook of Jeffery as a long-term building block.
According to a report by John Mullin of CSN Chicago on Thursday, the Bears “are seriously interested in the possibilities of a long-term deal” with Jeffery.
The South Carolina product is coming off his rookie scale contract and is set to hit free agency in 2016. Mullin also notes that if negotiations fall through, Chicago will be able to secure Jeffery for at least one more year by using their franchise tag on him (expected to be around $14.5 million for wide receivers).
Jeffery is clearly the team’s best receiver as well as their top, and perhaps only, vertical threat (as catch like these will attest to). But durability concerns have always been the issue for him, especially recently with his slew of hamstring, calf, groin, and shoulder issues causing many to seriously wonder if Jeffery is secretly made out of Funyuns.
The Bears do have some insurance if Jeffery walks with wide receiver Kevin White, the No. 7 overall pick last April, in waiting. But White is an unproven commodity that missed all of his rookie season with injury troubles of his own, a stress fracture in his left shin.
Simply put, the Bears offense cannot afford to lose Jeffery, particularly with running back Matt Forte an impending free agent as well. General manager Ryan Pace may have to bite the bullet and hope that Jeffery’s reward outweighs his risk.
Image Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
