Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has fallen short in his efforts to construct a dominant offensive line. While there have been positive strides with the drafting of tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, the core issues lie in the interior line. Right guard Nate Davis has been a massive disappointment so far, and center Coleman Shelton doesn’t seem like a viable long-term option. If the Bears want to build a dominant interior offensive line, looking at the Kansas City Chiefs’ blueprint for success could be the solution.
Chicago Bears Should Adopt Chiefs’ Blueprint for Creating a Dominant Interior Offensive Line
Elite Play From the Chiefs’ Interior Offensive Line
The Chiefs’ interior offensive line trio—left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey, and right guard Trey Smith—has quietly been the backbone of Kansas City’s offense for years. However, they’ve often been overshadowed by the star power of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Chiefs defensive lineman and former Bear Mike Pennel praised the trio for their elite play, with all three earning top-10 rankings according to NFL executives, coaches, and scouts.
“I mean, in my opinion, and watching the tape admittedly a lot of time, that is the best interior football for me. So when I’m going against the best center and the best two guards, it speaks for itself,” said Pennel. “The competitiveness and one-on-ones run blocking that Trey (Smith) and Creed (Humphrey) offer is unlike any other combo in this league. So, in practice and training camp. I’m seeing the hardest run combinations, gap schemes, and stretching zone from the best interior in football, so it’s a huge advantage…”
Despite the Chiefs’ challenges and frequent changes at the tackle positions, their offensive line remains dominant, largely due to the strength of the interior. Here’s how the Chiefs built a dominant interior offensive line:
- Signed Joe Thuney to a 5-year, $80M deal during the 2021 Free Agency period
- Drafted Creed Humphrey with the 63rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
- Drafted Trey Smith with the 226th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
The Chiefs managed the revamp the interior offensive line all in just one offseason! To make this clear, it’s hard for an NFL franchise to completely change the entire interior OL in just one season; but for the Bears, they have a real shot at replicating the Chiefs’ success in rebuilding the interior OL.
How the Bears Can Replicate the Chiefs’ Success
The Bears are in an ideal position to follow the Chiefs’ blueprint for success. According to Over the Cap, Chicago is projected to have around $73 million in cap space. And guess who’s set to hit free agency in 2025? Trey Smith!
While the Chiefs will do everything they can to keep Smith, they’re only projected to have $27 million in cap space. Adding to this, Bears GM Ryan Poles, who previously worked as the Chiefs’ Executive Director of Player Personnel, has strong ties to the organization. Smith will likely be the main priority for the Bears list of players to sign during the offseason, especially with all the drama surrounding Davis and the right guard position.
As for the other two positions, the Bears already have a really good player at left guard in Teven Jenkins. However, Poles faces a tough decision on whether to re-sign Jenkins after this season, considering his injury history.
Addressing the Bears’ Biggest Weakness on Offense
Arguably the most vital interior line position, center has been a huge issue for the Bears. The last season the Bears truly had a good center was back when Cody Whitehair was a Pro Bowler in 2018. Fast-forward to today, and the Bears still haven’t found a long-term solution. As a former offensive lineman, it’s confusing why Poles has almost brushed off trying to sign or draft a long-term solution at center. It’s obvious that the abysmal play from the center position has hindered the development of Justin Fields and now Caleb Williams.
Fortunately for the Bears, centers like Connor Williams, Drew Dalman, and Josh Myers will be free agents. If not, there are always talented centers coming out of college. Once the Bears assemble a group of dominant interior offensive linemen, the offense should improve.
