The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of beefing up the offensive line in the offseason. And after a rough start of the season, the unit has played much better. Unfortunately, the Jags have been stuck by injuries in recent weeks and could use help in the interior trenches. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggests they give the Chicago Bears a call and inquire about Teven Jenkins.
Ballentine took at every team's needs after Week 9 and thinks Jacksonville should trade for Jenkins, pointing out that right guard Brandon Scherff is set to become a free agent and the 2021 second-round draft pick could be his potential heir apparent.
"The Jaguars have some thinking to do when it comes to their offensive line. Trading away Cam Robinson is just the first decision of many the Jaguars will have to make this offseason. Another one is what to do with Brandon Scherff. He'll be a 34-year-old free agent at the end of the season.
Teven Jenkins has missed some games with injuries this season, but he should be one of the most sought-after linemen on the market if the Bears let it get that far. The 26-year-old is ranked 11th in overall PFF grade among all guards this season."
For the sake of clarity, Jenkins hasn't sat out a game this season. He did miss five in 2023 and four one year prior, though.
Jenkins mostly played offensive tackle in college but has lined up at right guard for the Bears, appearing in 39 games with 32 starts since 2021. He posted a dreadful Pro Football Focus grade of 47.5 as a rookie but has fared much better ever since. Last year, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy gave up 17 total pressures and three sacks while playing both guard spots. That kind of flexibility could come in handy in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is currently without Scherff and left guard Ezra Cleveland. Both left the Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers with injuries and sat out the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Compounding the issue is that sophomore Cooper Hodges filled in for Cleveland but he suffered a season-ending injury.
Without their two starting guards and the primary backup inside, the Jaguars could most definitely use Jenkins.
Grade the trade: Teven Jenkins a great addition to the Jaguars offensive line
In the short term, Teven Jenkins would add much-needed help to the interior offensive line. On the other hand, he could also have a chance to earn a starting job full-time. As Alex Ballentine noted, Brandon Scherf is slated to become a free agent in 2025. Given that he'll be 33 and not nearly as dominant as he was during his stint with the Washington Commanders, there's a chance the former Iowa Hawkeye won't return next year.
Jenkins is in the last year of his rookie deal, so he'll also hit the open in 2025. At worst, he could be a rental. At best, he could give the Jaguars an option at right guard. Either way, trading for him has upside, which begs the question, what kind of compensation would the Chicago Bears want? Back in 2022, they were reportedly open to listening to offers for him, but his improvement has made them change their stance.
Based on the market, a fourth or fifth-round pick would be fair. Last year, the Jags paid a sixth-rounder in exchange for Ezra Cleveland. All things considered, a Day 3 selection isn't a high price to pay for a starter.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars could use a boost on the offensive line. At 2-7, they'll need all the help they can get to turn things around. But even if they come up short, Teven Jenkins could turn out to be a worthy addition in the long run.
Grade: B+