There are two things an NFL team must do to give itself a chance at the glory at which it aims. Step one: Acquire a franchise quarterback. Step two: Protect that franchise quarterback.
The Chicago Bears got step one out of the way in the 2024 offseason, or so they hope, with the selection of Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs gifted the Bears with a major asset toward completing that second step in the process with the trade of Joe Thuney.
In doing so, the Chiefs' generous gift of a deal provided the Bears with the NFL's best offseason move (so far).
Now, that's not to say that the Chiefs did the Bears a favor on this, that general manager Brett Veach simply felt like serving up a prime asset on a silver platter for his old buddy Ryan Poles (a former exec for the Chiefs and the current GM for the Bears). The Chiefs were/are enacting a plan of their own, and there are reasons for making such a deal. But we'll get to those in a second.
The most important angle on this deal remains clear: the Bears' decision to acquire Joe Thuney from the Chiefs is the most impressive move of the entire NFL offseason.
The Bears are all-in on the Caleb Williams era, like it or not, and the offensive front didn't help matters in 2024. While Williams has his own issues in the pocket, and the Bears' line likely took a greater PR hit than it should have, the truth is that Chicago allowed the most sacks of any team in the National Football League. That's a stat that has to change in 2025.
Darnell Wright is a good start at right tackle. Braxton Jones might or might not be penciled in as the starter on the left side, depending on who comes into view at No. 10 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears also went to work along the offensive interior with the trades for Thuney and Jonah Jackson and the signing of Drew Dalman in free agency to man center.
The Bears should be thanking the Chiefs for the chance to employ Joe Thuney.
Together, that offensive line looks like a major leap forward across the board for the Bears, but the single greatest impact along the front belongs to Thuney.
With the trade of a future 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs, the Bears added an elite presence at left guard to upgrade the NFL's weakest interior. Thuney's presence will not only bring plenty of championship experience to a young offense, but his All-Pro blocking skills will help elevate the floor of whoever is playing to him—very good news for a potential new starter at left tackle.
Thuney also brings a versatility to the Bears' line that could come in handy in case of injuries. The Chiefs called on Thuney to play left tackle for multiple games down the stretch in the regular season as well as the entirety of their postseason run. While the three-peat bid failed, Thuney did an admirable job sliding outside to protect Patrick Mahomes in '24.
The Bears have now overhauled the entire interior offensive line after going with Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, and Matt Pryor one year ago. Thuney is arguably the single greatest guard in the entire NFL, and the Bears were able to get him for a song. And while the Chiefs needed the cap relief, the Bears are only on the hook for a $16M cap hit themselves for Thuney in 2025.
If the Bears find a way to lock up Thuney with a long-term extension, this move will look even better, but the truth is that the trade for a perennial All-Pro with numerous Super Bowl rings still in his prime who never misses a game was a deal for the ages. It's certainly the most impressive and important move of the NFL offseason. And Chicago has Kansas City to thank for it.
