Former Second-Round Pick Signs with Cleveland Browns
On March 20th, 2025, the Cleveland Browns announced the signing of versatile offensive lineman Teven Jenkins, after playing four years for the Bears. The contract details for the second-round pick from Oklahoma State have not been announced at this time. Riddled with injuries during his time in Chicago, Jenkins made the most of it, playing in 45 of the 68 possible games, starting 38 of them. Jenkins played some left tackle, switched to right guard, and then switched over to left guard. Jenkins joins a Browns squad that could use some help in the trenches while quarterback and running back remain a mystery as we inch toward the 2025 NFL Draft.
Drafted to Chicago in the second round of the 2021 draft, Jenkins almost instantly went onto injured reserve after having back surgery but was able to return and play some special teams snaps in Week 13. Jason Peters suffered an injury in Week 14, allowing Jenkins to come in and finish the game, subsequently starting and playing 100% of snaps in the next game versus the Minnesota Vikings. Showcasing his abilities at left tackle in those weeks was not enough to make him a starter for the rest of the year, but went on to start at right guard in 11 games in 2022, before being placed on injured reserve for the second time in his career. That next offseason, Jenkins announced that he would shift again to left guard, allowing newly acquired free agent guard Nate Davis to play in the right guard position. Jenkins was again placed on injured reserve for a small stint in 2023 for a calf injury, but returned to start in every game for the rest of the season, earning a 90% or more snap count in all but two games. Entering the last year of his contract, Jenkins avoided injury for the majority of the season, starting in all but the last game of the 2024 campaign, where the Bears were firmly out of playoffs after losing eight games in a row.
After becoming a free agent, Jenkins received interest from the Seahawks and Bengals before ultimately signing with the Browns. Cleveland and the 27-year-old lineman have a few options on where to put him in the lineup. Jenkins can play at either guard position behind aging guards Joel Bitonio or Wyatt Teller, both of whom are under contract through the 2025 season. Alternatively, the former offensive tackle could reprise his old position, taking over for Jedrick Wills Jr. who remains unsigned as of today. The 2024 Browns allowed 66 sacks, which was second most in the league, so in whichever position Jenkins plays on the offensive line, it is a good signing, adding younger talent to a veteran line whose sole responsibility is to protect the man taking snaps under center.
