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Baltimore Ravens

Ravens can forget about signing wide receiver Alshon Jeffery

By Jeff Zrebiec
Baltimore Sun
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) jumps up to grab a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) tries unsuccessfully to defend during the first half on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) jumps up to grab a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) tries unsuccessfully to defend during the first half on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle / TNS)

INDIANAPOLIS — Ravens fans can probably stop fantasizing about wide receiver Alshon Jeffery reuniting with Marc Trestman in Baltimore. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace told reporters Wednesday that the team is "actively and aggressively negotiating" with Jeffery, a pending free agent.

ESPN also reported Wednesday that if the Bears can't reach a long-term deal with Jeffery by March 1, they will place the franchise tag on the standout wide receiver, further weakening a poor free-agent market at the position.

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Jeffery, who has 24 touchdown receptions in his first four NFL seasons, had one of his two best years under Trestman in 2014, making 85 catches for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Ravens are looking to add another wide receiver and red-zone threat this offseason, but they probably wouldn't have been able to afford Jeffery even if he did hit the open market.

The current unrestricted free agent wide receiver class is expected to include Marvin Jones (Cincinnati Bengals), Mohamed Sanu (Bengals), former Raven Anquan Boldin (San Francisco 49ers), Travis Benjamin (Cleveland Browns) and Rishard Matthews (Miami Dolphins).

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