Alshon Jeffery‘s tenure with the Chicago Bears is officially at an end.
The soon to be sixth-year wide receiver signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.
Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles for 1 year — $14M
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
Alshon Jeffery Signs With the Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffery was among the more high profile players at his position heading into free agency. Last year, the Bears placed the franchise tag on him and he decided to play under that designation rather than sign a long-term deal. It gave him a fully guaranteed one-year, $14.599 million contract for the 2016 season.
It was a year to forget for both the Bears and their high profile target in the passing game. Chicago stumbled to a 3-13 record while Jeffery’s production faltered. He managed just two touchdown catches which was the lowest total of his career to this point. And only during his rookie season did he have fewer yards per game (68.4) and catch a fewer percentage of balls thrown his way (55.3 percent).
Things got worse for Jeffrey after a 36-10 week ten loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs. On November 15th, the league announced that they were suspending him for four games after a violation of the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. Jeffery said in a statement he took an anti-inflammatory supplement, which ended up containing a banned substance.
The 27-year-old’s two most productive seasons of his career thus far came in 2013 and 2014. Jeffrey eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards both years while combining for 17 touchdown receptions in that time. Jeffrey made his first Pro Bowl in 2013 while also being named Most Improved Player by the Pro Football Writers Association.
His five seasons in Chicago saw Jeffrey become among the most prolific pass-catchers of the Bears Super Bowl era. His 4,549 receiving yards is third in franchise history behind Johnny Morris and Harlon Hill. Only Brandon Marshall and Curtis Conway have more touchdown catches among post-Merger wideouts.
Jeffery starred collegiately at South Carolina where he earned freshman all-American honors in 2009. A year later, he led the SEC with 88 receptions, 1,517 yards receiving and nine touchdowns, helping the Gamecocks make the conference title game. Jeffery remains the school’s all-time leader in touchdown catches (23, tied with Sidney Rice) and receiving yards (3,042).
After foregoing his senior season, the Bears took Jeffrey 45th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
