Is Chicago Bears WR Alshon Jeffery en route to Dez, Demaryius payday?
Since being selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Alshon Jeffery has been a solid secondary option for the Chicago Bears at wide receiver. Through three seasons, he has been productive despite Brandon Marshall overshadowing him in the offense.
However, now that Marshall has been traded to the Jets, it's time for Jeffery to become the Bears' true No. 1 receiving threat. And based on past statistics he's put up, Chris Boden of CSN Chicago writes, that could mean a Dez Bryant-, Demaryius Thomas-level contract is just around the corner for Jeffery.
Dallas' Bryant and Denver's Thomas just signed five-year, $70 million contracts this week to stay with their respective teams. Both were drafted in 2010, but compare their statistics through their first three seasons to Jeffery's and the Chicago receiver is right there with them.
Bryant (2010-12): 200 catches, 2,871 yards, 27 touchdowns
Thomas (2010-12): 148 catches, 2,268 yards, 16 touchdowns
Jeffery (2012-14): 198 catches, 2,921 yards, 21 touchdowns
Bryant and Thomas both entered the league on five-year contracts and have put up huge statistics each of the last two seasons. Jeffery is only on a four-year deal, so he becomes a free agent after this season.
If he performs well in 2015 and the Bears wish to retain him into the future, Jeffery could conceivably command a contract similar to the ones Bryant and Thomas signed this week.
(h/t CSN Chicago)
Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh/Contract Photographer
