Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson rebuilt the offensive line with the Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney trades, which have effectively signaled the end of the Teven Jenkins Era. A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma State product began his career as a tackle before transitioning to guard after a rough rookie season. This proved to be for the best, as Jenkins became one of the league’s better guards. Last year, he finished the season with a 75.4 PFF grade, the 13th-best mark out of 77 eligible players at his position.
Teven Jenkins may not be as good as Joe Thuney, but the Bears free agent is an above-average starter who should have multiple suitors on the open market. There aren’t enough starting-caliber offensive linemen to go around, and any of these five teams could welcome Teven Jenkins with open arms.
Teven Jenkins Likely to Leave Bears Following Joe Thuney Trade
Possible Fits
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have two starting-caliber players on offense: quarterback Drake Maye and right guard Mike Onwenu. The rest of the unit is a complete mess and head coach Mike Vrabel has his work cut out for him. Fortunately, the team has $128 million in available cap space and should be able to sign Teven Jenkins from the Bears without sacrificing their ability to address other needs throughout the roster. Maye showed plenty of promise as a rookie but won’t survive unless this team adds multiple starting-caliber players in the coming months.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens never found proper replacements for guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler last year. While Patrick Mekari stepped up as an adequate starter, he’s a free agent and could join a new team. Teven Jenkins will probably cost more, but the longtime Bears guard could be worth the higher price tag. Derrick Henry dominated with subpar blocking from the guard position, so imagine what he could do with Jenkins creating wide-open rushing lanes.
Tennessee Titans
Whether it’s Will Levis, Miami’s Cam Ward, or a veteran, the Tennessee Titans must improve their offensive line to support their next quarterback. Former first-round pick Peter Skoronski has been nothing special since entering the league, while Dillon Radunz was an active liability next year. Head coach Brian Callahan must win games to keep his job, and signing Teven Jenkins as a free agent could help solidify the offensive line and mitigate what will almost certainly be a weak quarterback room.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs with a flawed roster last year, and now they have the cap space to realize Jim Harbaugh’s vision. The Chargers have a phenomenal tackle duo in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior offensive line needs some work. Trey Pipkins is a probable cut candidate, and Teven Jenkins could seamlessly step into that vacated starting position.
New Orleans Saints
On paper, the New Orleans Saints do not have the cap space to sign Teven Jenkins as a free agent. However, General Manager Mickey Loomis excels at creating cap space out of nowhere, so he could be willing to re-do some contracts if he believes the team can compete in 2025. The Saints have one of the worst offensive lines in football and must improve the unit if they want veteran Derek Carr to survive a full 17-game season.
Main Photo: Lon Horwedel – Imagn Images
