When head coach Ben Johnson took over in Chicago, one of the first orders of business was to revamp the offensive line. The Bears front office spent the early part of the offseason making sweeping changes to the offensive line. With the arrival of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson, the Bears are hoping to have better protection for Caleb Williams next season.
One of the players they let walk in the process was Teven Jenkins. A frustrating player at times due to his nagging injuries, Jenkins has been an important part of the Bears' offensive line ever since he was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lining up all over the o-line in the last four seasons, Jenkins has been very solid whenever he has been healthy.
Teven Jenkins May Not Find What He is Looking for With His New Team
In the offseason, Jenkins signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns. While it's not clear whether staying in Chicago was an option for the 27-year-old, he still could have made a better offseason decision.
Despite having one of his best seasons as a pro at left guard last season, Jenkins isn't projected to start in Cleveland. The Browns have former All-Pro guard, team captain, and longest-tenured player on the roster, Joel Bitonio, starting at left guard. It's hard to imagine Jenkins getting much of an opportunity barring an injury to Bitonio.
Starting right guard Wyatt Teller was also solid last season, meaning that Jenkins may have to switch to left tackle, the position he played as a rookie, to get a chance to start for the Browns.
Plus, it's not like the Browns will be a good team. Jenkins will spend most of the season on the bench on a non-playoff team.
One could easily argue that Jenkins would have had a better chance to start if he had stayed in Chicago. Perhaps both sides needed to move on, but the former Oklahoma State standout can certainly regret his decision.