One of the major storylines during the 2021 NFL Draft in April was former Oklahoma State Cowboys offensive tackle Teven Jenkins slipping to the second round. Many considered Jenkins to be a first-round pick, however, when he kept slipping, the Chicago Bears traded up for Jenkins, securing the franchise’s future left tackle.
In just two months with the Bears, Jenkins has already made an impression, stating that he wants to continue to get better every day. Chicago’s offensive line is filled with veteran starters like James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, Germain Ifedi, and Elijah Wilkinson, all of whom have continued to give Jenkins advice as the 39th overall pick continues his transition to the NFL.
“There’s been multiple on the whole line, like James Daniels, Cody (Whitehair), Germain (Ifedi), and Elijah Wilkinson,” Jenkins said via the Bears official YouTube page.
Younger players like Jenkins typically rely on veterans in the NFL to show them the way. In addition to on-field work, off-field work such as meetings, lifting sessions, and taking care of one’s body play into a long NFL career.
“For me, from listening to what they have to say, like from little things of take care of your body, getting to the weight room, get to the film room, they even help me on the field during certain sets, tells me if it wasn’t good enough, go back and do it again,” Jenkins said. “And just little things like that from them is going to make a long payoff for me as a player and I really appreciate them for doing that.”
Throughout his college career, Jenkins showcased nastiness and the willingness to play with a mean streak on every single rep. As he continues to prepare for his rookie season, playing on an offensive line with veterans will benefit Jenkins playing style, giving him the opportunity to continue his same playing style.
Chicago is excited for Jenkins’ upside, which is off the charts. By continuing to rely on veterans, Jenkins is hoping to realize his potential sooner rather than later and possibly become a household name on Chicago’s offensive line.