The Chicago Bears aren’t going anywhere this season, and here are five teams that could trade for wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
The Chicago Bears sit at 1-6 less than a week away from this year’s NFL trade deadline. They would surely like to find someone to take quarterback Jay Cutler off their hands in a trade, but Brian Hoyer’s arm injury has left Cutler as their clear best option under center for the rest of the season. But wide receiver Alshon Jeffery looks like a potential trade chip, and he could be on the move soon.
Jeffery has yet to catch a touchdown this season, and he has 32 receptions for 520 yards through seven games. He may have been operating at less than full strength for a time, but over that last two games he’s been targeted a whopping 24 times.
Jeffery is slated to become a free agent next spring, and he’s firmly in his prime at 26 years old. The Bears may literally have no chance to sign him long-term next March, with better teams possibly in the market for a wide receiver, so trading Jeffery for a draft pick or two right now is a possible solution.
Here are five teams that could make Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace an offer he can’t refuse in an attempt to trade for Jeffery.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant is expected to return from a knee injury this week, but the rest of the Cowboys’ wide receiver group is not outstanding. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has not often taken risks with downfield passes thus far, but having another big target on the perimeter may give him some confidence to do so.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones is obviously not afraid to make big moves. His son Stephen has been a voice of reason recently, but the Cowboys have a legitimate chance to make a deep playoff run. Acquiring Jeffery doesn’t necessarily require a commitment beyond this season, which adds to his appeal as a trade target for Dallas.