Reports: Bears WR Alshon Jeffery will not receive franchise tag, will become free agent

The Chicago Bears are not expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, according to multiple Chicago and national reports. That means Jeffery is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9, and he will be the top wide receiver on the open market. The Eagles are expected to pursue a wide receiver in free agency, and Jeffery would be the most attractive target if the Eagles can afford him.

The news, which was first reported Monday morning by the NFL Network, was not a surprise. The Bears used the tag on Jeffery last season, which means he would have been guaranteed $17.5 million if the Bears used the tag on him again. The Chicago Tribune said the Bears will let Jeffery test the market, and ESPN reported that Jeffery is expected to sign elsewhere.

Jeffery, 27, is not a flawless free agent. He has not had a 1,000-yard season since 2014 and he has missed 11 games during the past two years because of injury. But when he's on the field, there's no question he's a difference-maker. At 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, he has prototypical size and is a proven downfield threat. His two best seasons were 2013 (89 catches, 1,421 yards, seven touchdowns) and 2014 (85 catches, 1,133 yards, 10 touchdowns).

His on-field production didn't drop off when he played the past two seasons – he averaged five catches and 77.5 yards per game, which would extrapolate to 80 catches and 1,240 yards if he played 16 games both seasons. His position coach in 2013 and 2014 was Mike Groh, who the Eagles hired for the same job last month.

The Eagles still need to create cap space, and they will have competition in the marketplace. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are among the tapes with more cap space that could pursue Jeffery this offseason.