Teven Jenkins is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Chicago Bears in 2024, but his future intentions have remained unchanged from the day the team selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL selection.
“I’ve wanted to be a Bear for a long time,” Jenkins told 670 The Score in an interview on May 9.
Jenkins, who turned 26 in March, might be the Bears’ most important free agent of the 2025 offseason. While injuries limited him in his first three seasons, he has developed into a formidable run-blocker for their offensive line and is versatile enough to start at either guard position, making him one of their top frontline assets.
Jenkins understands that he is currently playing “the waiting game” with Chicago. Before entering into conversations about a prospective contract extension, the Bears will most likely want to see if he can play a complete season without being injured. In the meanwhile, Jenkins will concentrate on the task at hand: taking the next step and leading the O-line team.
“What I got from my agent, we had to wait until after the draft, is all I know,” Jenkins said of contract talks with the Bears. “We’ll try to contact them shortly, but for now, we’re playing the waiting game. I’ve wanted to be a bear for a long time. I still do. This has not changed while I’ve been
drafted. But we’ll see how things play out and take it day by day. “I’m just going to try to be a great leader for the O-line room and a great player for the team.”
If Teven Jenkins departs, the Bears will lack a succession plan.
The Bears will have real concerns about Jenkins’ long-term value entering the 2024 season. He developed into a decent starting guard last season and showed the ability to become a Pro Bowl player, but he has missed 20 games in his first three seasons and remains a huge injury concern going ahead. Without significant progress this season, it will be difficult to justify paying him top-10 guard money. The Bears’ dilemma in discussions is that they do not have a succession plan in place for Jenkins if he is unable or unwilling to accept a new contract.
The Bears released Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick during the 2024 offseason, leaving 2022 seventh-round pick Ja’Tyre Carter as their sole returning guard other than Jenkins and fellow starter Nate Davis. They recruited three guards — Ryan Bates, Coleman Shelton, and youngster Kiran Amegadjie — but Bates and Shelton are expected to compete for the center position, while Amegadjie will start as a swing tackle.
Davis might possibly be a concern. He did not always meet expectations in his debut season with Chicago in 2023, surrendering only one sack but a team-high seven quarterback hits and a third-round 29 pressures in 384 pass-blocking snaps. He also missed six games this season, including five due to a high ankle sprain.
If Davis does not improve in 2024, the Bears may consider moving on from him in 2025, when they no longer owe him guaranteed money. And if they do cut him, it will make their decision on Jenkins’ future all the more difficult.
Keenan Allen Also notable among 2025 free agents.
Fortunately for the Bears, Jenkins could make things easier for them. If he performs well, they have approximately $58.8 million in projected cap space for 2025 and plenty of room to sign him to a contract, even if he demands more than $10 million per year. As long as he meets the benchmarks, it benefits both parties to remain together after 2024.
In addition to Jenkins, the Bears do not have many additional high-priority free agents to try to extend in 2025. The only other huge name that jumps off the page is Keenan Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, and the Bears will almost probably wait and see how he plays.
2024 before rushing to give him additional money. Allen caught a career-high 108 passes for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and would be a valuable weapon for Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams if he maintains his success in Chicago. The Bears will be cautious to pay a high salary to a 32-year-old wide receiver, though, with the younger DJ Moore nearing the end of his contract and 2024 first-round selection Rome Odunze waiting in the wings for a chance.
It is not impossible for Allen to return in 2025, but Jenkins’ case will be considerably stronger if he protects Williams well this season. Running back Khalil Herbert is also a notable 2025 free agent for the Bears, but his case for an extension was significantly weakened when the team signed D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract in 2024 free agency. With 2023 fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson still in the mix, it’s difficult to picture the organization asking Herbert to stick around next season.
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