Bears Unlikely To Franchise Alshon Jeffery

No surprise here, but the Bears are not expected to use the franchise tag on Alshon Jeffery, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The word all offseason long has been that the Bears will part ways with the wide receiver. With days to go before the franchise tag deadline, it doesn’t sound like they’re going to have a change of heart. Furthermore, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears the two sides haven’t had contract talks as of late.Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery is now slated to enter the free agent market as the No. 1 wide receiver available. The Bears star is coming off of a so-so year that included a four-game ban for performance-enhancing drugs, but he’s still a major talent and a proven performer. In 2013, Jeffery flashed his full potential when he caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns. In the following season, he had 85 catches for 1,133 yards and ten scores. Injuries slowed him in 2015 and he struggled in the Bears’ sluggish offense last season, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that he can rebound in the right system.

The Bears used the franchise tag on Jeffery last season, meaning that another tender would cost the team roughly $17MM. It’s possible that Chicago will still make an attempt to keep the 27-year-old, but they won’t entertain it at that price.

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