Ian Rapoport of NFL Media is reporting that the Bears met with the representatives for free agent WR Alshon Jeffery on Saturday and a “positive” meeting overall.
According to Rapoport, both the Bears and Jeffery are “more than open” to a potential return to Chicago.
A few days ago, Josina Anderson reported that the 49ers, Titans, and Eagles will be “potential suitors” for Jeffery in the coming days with the Bears also being in the mix.
Jeffery tells Anderson that he doesn’t have any hard feeling for the Bears, but he’s looking forward to his next chapter.
“I don’t have any hard feeling towards the Bears; it’s all love,” Jeffery said. “Whatever the next chapter is, I’m ready for it. I’m looking at the teams that obviously need a wide receiver, but also put me in the best situation to win a championship right now….I also want to see what other free agents may be attracted to the same teams I’ll be looking at, that can help that goal.”
Chicago elected to not sure their franchise tag on Jeffery before the recent deadline, which would have cost Chicago over $17 million fully guaranteed for the 2017 season.
It will be interesting to see what Jeffery is able to secure in terms of salary on the open market. He was reportedly targeting $14 million per year last year, but he could now be in position to top that and secure around $15 million annually.
Jeffery, 26, was taken in the second-round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Bears. He played out the final year of his four-year, $4.54 million rookie contract that included a $1.74 million signing bonus before receiving the team’s franchise tag.
In 2016, Jeffery appeared in 12 games and caught 52 passes for 821 yards receiving and two touchdowns for the Bears. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 33 receiver out of 115 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.
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