Bears still have lots of ways to fix the line without Trey Smith

So the Bears aren’t going to get the free agent that was atop their wish list. But that may not be the major blow it seems to the Ryan Poles/Ben Johnson mission of rebuilding the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams.

Multiple reports say Kansas City has somehow found the cap space to use a franchise tag on Trey Smith. With an abundance of salary flexibility, it would have been easy for the Bears to commit five-plus seasons and $100 million-plus to sign the 25-year-old guard and construct a line around him and third-year tackle Darnell Wright, who looks to be a year away from his own monster contract extension. But that plan would have impacted depth across the line.

The Bears are in need of an influx or three, maybe even four, impact linemen for the 2025 season. They will find themselves with some more attractive options while spreading their resources.

Consider this: Robert Hunt, the top free agent lineman in 2024, signed a five-year, $100-million deal with Carolina. The next nine highest signings averaged three years with an average annual value of $12.1 million — almost 40 percent less than Hunt’s $20 million AAV.

Poles and Johnson must choose wisely when they identify their free agent targets but with Smith off the board they will find it easier to pursue other needs — an edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat, for instance — while using free agency and the draft to upgrade a line that deteriorated due largely to Teven Jenkins’ recurring injuries.

While with Detroit, Johnson had the luxury of designing his creative offenses behind a strong offensive line, which became a priority when Dan Campbell arrived as head coach in 2021. The goal is to build that same kind of strength in Chicago but it’s not likely to happen in one cycle of player acquisition.

The two offensive lines that are no doubt being studied at Halas Hall belong to Carolina and Washington. Both made massive improvements in 2024 to protect young quarterbacks Bryce Young and Jayden Daniels.

The Panthers were ranked 29th in 2023 but jumped to eighth last season after a major investment through free agency. In addition to Hunt, they signed guard Damien Lewis to a four-year, $53 million deal while also giving fourth-year tackle Taylor Moton a two-year, $35 million extension. They continue to benefit from drafting North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu with the sixth overall pick in 2022 — a similar move to Poles bypassing Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter to add Wright with the 10th pick overall in ’23.

The Commanders ranked 24th in 2023 but jumped to 10th in Daniels’ first season. They had a ready-made leader in guard Sam Cosmi, who signed a four-year, $74 million extension to keep him off the free-agent market. But they almost completely rebuilt around him, adding free agents Tyler Biadasz (three years, $29.25 million) and Nick Allegretti (three years, $16 million) while taking TCU tackle in the third round of the draft. Coleman settled in as the starter at left tackle in the second half of the season.

Both the Panthers and Commanders made coaching changes last season, with the new offensive line coaches (Joe Gilbert in Carolina and Bobby Johnson in Washington) getting immediate results. Gilbert, especially, has had a similar career to Dan Roushar, who is joining Johnson in Chicago.

Gilbert has coached 37 years, including a run where his line was charged with blocking for Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. Roushar is entering his 41st year as a coach, including a 10-year stint with the Saints. His line blocked for Drew Brees in a stretch when the Saints averaged 10 wins and went to the postseason five times.

The Bears are currently $78.9 million under the cap figure of $279.2 million, behind only three other teams (Patriots, Raiders and Commanders). They have eight picks in the draft, including three of the first 41.

They may not land their top target, assuming the Chiefs do use the franchise tag on Smith, but there’s no reason they can’t emulate the success of the Panthers and Commanders in upgrading the line.