The Chicago Bears seem intent on stabilizing their offensive line:
Bears and LT Charles Leno Jr closing in on 4-year, $38m extension with $21.5m in guarantees source says. Former 7th-rounder gets paid.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 23, 2017
Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. was set to cash in as a free agent this offseason, but it doesn’t look like he’ll get there. Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network tweets the Bears and Leno Jr. are closing in on a four-year extension that includes $21.5 million in guarantees and could be worth up to $38 million. Leno Jr. was a seventh-round pick (246th overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft, and is one of the handful of holdovers from the teams put together by former GM Phil Emery.
Leno Jr.’s deal would rank 14th among active left tackles in total value with the ninth most guaranteed.
The Boise State product has started 29 of the last 32 games for the Bears at left tackle, including all 16 last season, a year in which he proved to be one of the most effective pass blockers. Leno Jr. earned a 71.2 grade from Pro Football Focus that ranked him 42nd among 72 qualifying tackles.
UPDATE I: It’s officially official!
We have re-signed @charleslenojr72 to a four-year contract extension.
CLJ is a Bear through 2021! 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Bntgm2s3wi
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 23, 2017