The Facts: According to Tribune staffer Dan Wiederer, it's a near certainty Jeffery will play the 2016 season on the franchise tag. So go ahead and keep your calendar open for the days leading up to July 15 without feeling anxious about the suspense of Jeffery's contract status.

Diehards Line: Wiederer went on to concede that GM Ryan Pace has repeatedly acknowledged that he has an open line of communication with Jeffery’s camp. And Pace has classified those contract discussions as “cordial” and “productive.” But from everything Wiederer has gathered from within league circles, there are no indications that the Bears will push to get a long-term deal solidified for Jeffery this summer -- especially with lingering questions about his durability remaining to be answered. Playing on the tag also makes sense for Jeffery. The seven games he missed last season due to leg muscle injuries prevented him from hitting free agency with full earning power. Extrapolate his 2015 stats over 16 games and you get 1,435 yards, seven touchdowns and 105 catches — output worthy of a contract among the NFL’s best receivers. Jeffery can bet on himself to play a full season, which he did in 2013 and 2014, and maybe cash in. Fantasy owners rolling with Jeffery this summer might do the same.