The Chicago Bears loss to the Detroit Lions on October 18th, could have been more significant than just missing an opportunity to reach .500 before the team’s bye week. That loss to the then winless Lions just might have activated full out fire sale mode at Halas Hall.
While this is a new regimen in Chicago, it is apparent that the new team officials would like to strip down the spare parts to build it back up in their liking. After rumors swirled around that Matt Forte wasn’t exactly happy with the team not offering him an extension yet, and seemingly everyone assuming Jay Cutler will be traded before the end of his deal, there seems to be a new headline name to add to the Bears trade block…
Alshon Jeffery
Alshon has shown the ability to be a game changing wide receiver, and there were questions about his ability to carry the load as the true number one option in an offense, a question he seemed to answer against Detroit (148 yards on 6 catches and a touchdown). While he too is in his last year under his rookie contract, the Bears would have options to keep him around even if they couldn’t come to terms on a new deal (franchise tag). Could that mean we might be looking at an Alshon Jeffery trade though?
NFL insider Ian Rapoport had strong feelings on how the Bears wouldn’t offer Jeffery in any deal, but there is a former NFL executive turned insider that not only thinks the Bears will trade Alshon, he’s even named a likely team. Gil Brandt recently said this on NFL.com.
“While the team (Bears) could turn to the franchise tag to keep Jeffery on, it might behoove the Bears to see what they can get for him in a deal,” Gil said. “The Giants could use him to add depth, especially as they’re still waiting on Victor Cruz to get healthy. Of course, the signability factor limits Jeffery’s trade value to the point that Chicago might not get more than a fifth or sixth round pick back.”
This of course would catch Bears players and fans off-guard. Everyone waited for Jeffery to make his return, he finally does, and he could be dealt… and for a fifth round pick!?
Sure Alshon is worth well more than that, but established commodities like Jeffery, in the final year of a deal, do tend to fetch less as teams are less willing to lose the promise of a future player for a half season with another.
There may not be much merit to the comments Gil made, but where there is smoke there is often fire. It’s odd that someone would specifically name a team when they are mentioning the possible availability of a player, which lends more intrigue as to how true it could be. But a likely Jeffery and the Giants connection could work as they are currently on top on the East and Eli Manning could certainly use another target besides Odel Beckham Jr.
Additionally there are some within the Bears organization that do not believe Jeffery will stay a Bear unless they use the franchise tag on the receiver. Which even if they do tag him, you could certainly expect him to hold out until a trade or long term deal is completed, or he plays out the stretch until he could become a free agent (the Bears could tag him two seasons consecutively).
Stay tuned as we all try and figure out what the heck is happening at Halas Hall.
