Teven Jenkins is entering his fourth season with the Bears in 2024. He was drafted in the second round in 2021. In 2024, Jenkins will earn a base salary of $1.8M and have a cap hit of $2.6M making him the 45th highest-paid player at his position.
Being on a rookie deal has given the Bears significant flexibility, but they now need to decide on Jenkins future. However, due to his injuries, negotiations may be challenging. Jenkins has missed 9 games over the past two years, playing in 25 out of 34 games. As the saying goes, “the best ability is availability.”
In an interview with 670 The Score, Jenkins provided a somewhat concerning update regarding his potential contract extension.
“What I got from my agent, we had to wait until after the draft, is all I know...We’re going to try to reach out to them here soon, but right now, we’re playing the waiting game.”
The market for offensive guards has surged this offseason, with top players signing significant contracts. Here are some of the major deals:
Robert Hunt: 5 years, $100 million
Landon Dickerson: 4 years, $84 million
Damien Lewis: 4 years, $53 million
Jonah Jackson: 3 years, $51 million
Kevin Dotson: 3 years, $48 million
The big question is where Jenkins sees himself in this market. As we’ve seen with Bears GM Ryan Poles, once they set a number, they stick to it. Just ask Jaylon Johnson and Roquan Smith.
If I were the Bears, I would aim for a 3-year deal worth $45 million to $55 million for Jenkins. Does he deserve this kind of money? I think he does. In 2023, Jenkins allowed the fewest pressures among the Bears starting five offensive linemen by a clear margin. Over the past two seasons, he ranked in the Top 15 in offensive grades among players at his position, including third in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jenkins has expressed his desire to stay with the Bears long-term, saying, “I want to be a Bear for a long time,” during his interview with 670 The Score.
I believe the Bears can make this happen in a way that benefits both sides. Will the Bears make Jenkins play more in 2024 before negotiating his contract again? Or are they satisfied and content with his performance/injuries over the past three seasons? It will be interesting to see how this unfolds as the Bears offseason progresses.
