With The First Pick
Fansided

Alshon Jeffery, Bears Not Close to Long-term Deal

By Carl Cockerham

Dec 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) catches a pass against Washington Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar (47) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Washington Redskins won 24-21.Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) catches a pass against Washington Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar (47) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Washington Redskins won 24-21.Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Chicago Bears WR Alshon Jeffery is QB Jay Cutler’s favorite weapon and the team’s most exciting player to watch. In 2013, he put his name on the map, positing 89 catches for 1,421 yards with seven TDs. Then in 2014, his season totals were 85 catches for 1,133 yards and 10 TDs.

In 2015, a contract year, he had 807 yards and 4 TDs in only eight games. That’s great production for only eight games but at the same time, it’s only eight games. So Jeffery and the Bears had a time agreeing on a contract, forcing the Bears to use the franchise tag on him.

The two sides have unsuccessfully continued to negotiate in hopes of reaching a long-term deal. So here we are, a week until the deadline for players with franchise tags to sign multi-year deals with their teams and it doesn’t look good for Jeffery getting a deal done.

A while back, Rich Campbell and Dan Wiedere of the Chicago Tribune reported that Jeffery will more than likely play out the 2016 season on the tag. And NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo has recently confirmed it, saying, “There’s not a lot of confidence” that a deal will get done before the deadline.

According to Garafolo, the Bears want to pay less than the $14.6 million that Jeffery is guaranteed under the franchise tender but Jeffery wants a deal that pays more than the $11 million-plus Doug Baldwin and Keenan Allen are getting after signing their extensions.

So it looks like Jeffery will have to show he can stay healthier than he did last season before resuming the push for the long-term deal he’s looking to get in 2017.

Home/Chicago Bears