Chatter that the Bears were going to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has been going on since before the end of the 2015 season and a report over the weekend indicated that they had made the decision to go that route.
The Bears made it official on Monday with an announcement confirming that they have placed the tag on their top wideout. The two sides can continue discussing a long-term deal through July 15.
If Jeffery plays out the year under the terms of the tag, he’ll make $14.599 million that would become fully guaranteed when Jeffery signs the tag. Based on what we’ve seen in recent years, Jeffery will probably hold off on doing that for a while as the Bears are unlikely to rescind the tag and he’d surely prefer a deal that offers him more security beyond the 2016 season.
Those conversations can now continue with the July deadline well in the future and Jeffery off the open market when free agency begins next week.