NEWSLETTER
It’s good to see that Brett isn’t the only one who gets to have fun talking trades today.
Teven Jenkins’ situation has been an odd one to this point. His slide down the offensive line spectrum and move into second-string right tackle has been a storyline we’ve been following throughout the offseason. And it sounds like the situation will get even more interesting, with NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo hearing that Jenkins is receiving trade interest:
Rapoport hears that teams have called the Bears and had trade discussions regarding Jenkins. Meanwhile, Garafolo chimes in with a note that makes it seem as if the Ryan Poles regime is open to trading a player it didn’t draft in the first place. An already fascinating situation with Jenkins missing from practice continues to add layers of intrigue.
This seems like a good place to underscore that this sure seems like the kind of thing where a team (the Bears) tries to push word of reported “interest” because they’re seeking a team to put out a specific offer. In other words, this could be the Bears trying to nudge 31 other possible teams that they can get dibs on a player who was a second-round pick a year ago for a later-round draft pick rather than waiting out a cut and the waiver process. Even still … are the Bears – a team thirsty for offensive line help – really about to dump a 2021 second-round pick that other teams believe still has potential because the guys running the show now weren’t the ones who took him? If so, wow.
Considering the move from LT1 to RT2 that has taken place this offseason, maybe the Bears’ preference is to shop him in a deal and get something for a player who seems to be on the outs.
I suppose checking the market for interest in a trade is better than the alternative of dumping the player outright. Then again, the trade route might be a worse option than trying to iron out whatever fit problems there are for a lineman with potential who is still on his rookie contract. My general feeling is that a potential Jenkins trade feels like a sell-low situation. And on a prospect who plays a position the Bears have been desperate to fill. A year ago at this time was projecting to be a starting left tackle protecting Justin Fields’ blindside. Or, at minimum, a starting offensive lineman. But soon, he could be gone. We’ll see.
