The future is bright for the Chicago Bears, but there's no guarantee all their stars stick around to see that future come to fruition.
With a 4-2 record and an active three-game winning streak, the Bears are riding high as the midway point of the 2024 season approaches. Even if Chicago isn't yet ready to contend for a Super Bowl this year, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is giving fans every reason to believe they have a long championship window ahead.
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However, Williams can't do it all by himself. The offensive line is a crucial piece of the Bears' future, whether it sinks or swims. And one impact starter set to hit free agency could be the lynchpin to Chicago's hopes of keeping Williams well-protected for years to come.
Fourth-year Bears guard Teven Jenkins is enjoying a breakout season and is set to make a windfall in free agency. On Monday, Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department predicted that Jenkins would bolt to the Houston Texans when free agency opens in the spring.
"The Texans don't have many outright holes on either side of the ball, but their situation at left guard could be classified as such. Kenyon Green has been given plenty of chances to prove that he can be a reliable starter and it hasn't really happened," the authors said.
"(Houston) could really get the best of both worlds if they find space in the budget to go after Teven Jenkins in free agency. The former second-round pick has found a role as a solid starting guard after struggling at tackle."
Losing Jenkins would be a tough setback for a Bears offensive line that has been gathering steam throughout the year. The 26-year-old already has 14 total points earned, putting him on pace to smash his career-high of 25 set last season.
There aren't many teams whose ceilings are as high as Chicago's in future seasons, but Houston is one of them. Assuming Jenkins gets a substantial raise on his $8 million rookie contract wherever he goes, the Texans could offer him the chance to play a slightly higher caliber of football.
The Bears are likely to have something to say about Jenkins walking, but at the end of the day, the player gets the final say. Chicago hopes to retain their homegrown star, yet that may not be in the cards this time around.
