The Chicago Bears made a bold move when they agreed to terms on a trade for Pro Bowl left guard Joe Thuney before the start of 2025 NFL free agency.
Thuney is a three-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl champion who has remained remarkably healthy and consistent over the past nine NFL seasons. According to Pro Football Focus , he allowed zero sacks on 708 pass-blocking snaps while protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the 2024 season.
Now, the Bears are making it a priority to retain Thuney for the long haul.
During Tuesday's pre-draft press conference, general manager Ryan Poles told reporters the Bears are prioritizing signing Thuney to a contract extension that would keep him with the team beyond his current deal, which expires in 2026.
"Yeah, I would say that's definitely one of the priorities moving forward," Poles said Tuesday while discussing the new deals for T.J. Edwards and Kyler Gordon.
Thuney is in the final year of the $80 million contract he signed with the Chiefs in 2021 and will carry a $16 million cap hit for the 2025 season if the Bears do not make any changes to his deal. An extension, however, could alter things.
According to Spotrac, Thuney is projected to earn about $20 million per season on his next contract, which would make him one of the six highest-paid guards in the NFL. While the extension structure could ultimately lower his 2025 cap hit, the Bears will likely need to make a significant investment to retain the veteran.
The Bears must also consider whether $20 million annually is the "right" price. Thuney made the Pro Bowl in each of his last three seasons and has missed just two career games due to injuries, but he will turn 33 before next season ends.
Even then, though, the Bears have emphasized strengthening the protection for both quarterback Caleb Williams and their backfield rotation during the 2025 offseason. While one season of Thuney would still accomplish that, the outlook is far brighter for the Bears if they secure him for at least one more season.
Unless Chicago walks out of the draft with a clear successor for Thuney in place at left guard, expect an extension to remain one of the Bears' top priorities.
