"We're actively and aggressively negotiating right now," general manager Ryan Pace said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. "We understand the deadline is Tuesday for the franchise tag. That's an option. We have until Tuesday to make that decision, but right now that's kind of ongoing."
If the Bears do use their franchise tag on Jeffery, it would preclude him from becoming an unrestricted free agent while guaranteeing him a one-year salary for the average of the NFL's five highest paid receivers. In that scenario, they would still be able to sign him to a long-term deal through July 15.