Reports: Bears won't use franchise tag on WR Jeffery
The Bears will not use the franchise tag on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, according to NFL Network and ESPN, which will likely send the wide receiver to the free-agent market on March 9.
To apply the tag on Jeffery for the second year in a row, the Bears would have spent approximately $17.5 million on their No. 1 wideout for a one-year tender, unless the two sides would agree to a long-term contract.
The Bears could certainly still re-sign Jeffery, but he likely will find a more lucrative contract elsewhere as the clear-cut top receiver available with teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles desperate for talent at that position.
Jeffery, 27, had 52 catches for 821 yards and 2 touchdowns last season and was suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He missed seven games in 2015 for a variety of soft-tissue injuries.
In five seasons and 63 games, Jeffery has 4,549 receiving yards, which ranks third all-time in Bears history.
At the Senior Bowl, Bears general manager Ryan Pace said the two sides had not been in active contract discussions.
"He's an extremely talented player that has high expectations for himself," Pace said at a news conference following the season. "I don't feel like this season he really got into a rhythm that he would have liked to have gotten into. I think that was because of a lot of different quarterback play. And also he missed four games. It's hard for him to get in a rhythm and showcase what he can do.
" … I think Alshon expects more. I think he's a good player. And that's a big decision for us."
Jeffery could seek an average-per-year contract in the $12-14 million range, which would put him in the top six at the position. The Bears have a comfortable salary cap situation, but may not be prepared to dedicate a big guaranteed salary to a player who has had availability issues.
If Jeffery does not return, wide receiver becomes a big priority for the Bears. Kevin White is coming off his second surgery in two seasons. Should White return and be the top wideout the Bears expected when they drafted him No. 7 overall in 2015, that could mitigate the loss of Jeffery. Cameron Meredith had a breakout campaign in 2016, but he is an undrafted player who began his college career as a quarterback. He still has upside, but his ceiling is unclear. Eddie Royal is under contract, but he has no guaranteed money left and missed seven games over two seasons.
After those three, the top returning receivers are Josh Bellamy and Daniel Braverman.
In free agency, the Bears can take a look at veterans such as DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon or Kenny Britt, or take a look at younger, unproven players such as Kendall Wright, Kamar Aiken or Robert Woods.
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