Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery signed his $14.599 million franchise tag tender, the team announced on Tuesday.
The two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement.
The Bears and Jeffery’s representative met multiple times at last month’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis before Chicago ultimately applied the franchise tag to the star wide receiver in advance of the leagues’ deadline to do so.
Jeffery is now officially under contract for 2016, and therefore obligated to attend June’s mandatory veteran minicamp and training camp, or risk incurring a fine.
When healthy, Jeffery is one of the Bears' top players on offense, catching 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns last season.