Teven Jenkins, the Chicago Bears’ starting left guard, is in the last year of his deal. He said during a news conference a few weeks ago that he approached the Bears about a contract extension. Teven claims he was told that the team may address issue after the bye week in mid-October.
Why don’t the Bears want to talk about extensions now and instead wait? I believe there are several causes, the most important of which has been Jenkins’ durability (or lack thereof). Jenkins has missed more than half of the Bears’ games across his three seasons with the team.
Because of back troubles, he only appeared in six of the team’s 16 games as a rookie in 2021, starting two. When he was shifted to guard in 2023, he appeared in 13 of 17 games, making 11 starts. He appeared in only 12 games last season, starting 11 of them. One thing is certain: Teven Jenkins has been inconsistent and has missed far too much playing time.
There is no doubt that when Jenkins is healthy, he is one of the top run blocking guards in the league. His pass blocking isn’t as good as his run blocking, but he’s not a bad blocker. In pass pro, Teven will occasionally lose good placement, which causes him to give up pressures. I believe it is more an issue of concentration than a lack of ability, as we witness him being a very good pass blocker on other snaps.
Another reason the Bears could be hesitant to extend Teven is because the market for elite guards has increased considerably in the last year. The going salary for a top guard is now around $20 million per year. Denver Broncos guard Quin Meinerz recently signed a new contract worth an estimated $80 million over four years. Of the top ten highest-paid guards right now, the lowest is Kansas City’s Joe Thuney, who will earn $16 million this year. His contract was signed in 2021 and is already out of date in comparison to recent contracts at the position.
The main question is whether Bears General Manager Ryan Poles is prepared to offer a hefty contract to a player who has yet to show he is durable. My guess is that if Teven and his reps agree to a shorter-term, more team-friendly contract, a deal might be reached. If Jenkins wants to be compensated like the top players at the position, I don’t see a contract being signed.
Last April, the Bears selected offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie in the third round of the draft. Amegadjie is a strong, physical, and agile lineman who can play both tackle and guard. Kiran has been unable to participate since camp commenced due to his ongoing recovery from quadriceps surgery. When he does get on the pitch, he may play guard or swing tackle/guard.
The 2025 Draft is expected to be strong for offensive linemen, and with the Bears having three picks in the first two rounds, I believe one of those picks will be on the offensive line. If the Bears decide to part ways with Jenkins, they have several possibilities.
Another reason the Bears may not want to sign a high-value agreement is that Braxton Jones can be extended after this season. Given his position as left tackle, it may be more crucial to sign him to a long-term profitable contract.
At this point, nothing is guaranteed. The first step is for Jenkins to remain healthy and demonstrate his ability to play all 17 games while also performing effectively. If that happens, his worth rises, but will it be too high for the Bears to consider? It’s an intriguing situation to follow during the season and immediately after.
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