The first day of free agency is in the books, and it seems like the Chicago Bears had an idea of where they wanted to improve. The team's biggest needs heading into the offseason were along both the offensive and defensive lines. It seems like Poles got the memo.
Thus far, the Bears have acquired Guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams, Guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs, and Center Drew Dalman from the Falcons. On the other side of the ball, they stayed within the trenches, signing Dayo Odeyingbo from the Colts and Grady Jarrett from the Falcons. That is some serious beef.
Moves in the trenches are designed to help the entire team, but let's look at which three Bears players are smiling the brightest after Monday's moves.
Caleb Williams
No one is happier with the moves made during free agency than Williams. Coming off a rookie season in which he was sacked 68 times, Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson knew their first order of business was to protect their rising star. By revamping the interior of the offensive line, they will be able to give Williams more time in the pocket and help him make the critical second-year jump.
Factor in that both Thuney and Dalman wanted to be in Chicago playing with Williams, and you can't help but feel excited about this group.
Montez Sweat
After leading both the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears in sacks during the 2023 season, Sweat finished with a modest 5.5 sacks in the 2024 campaign. Although he missed only one game, he dealt with numerous injuries throughout the season. One major reason for the lack of production was the absence of another elite player alongside him.
Andrew Billings is a solid tackle, but he primarily focuses on stopping the run. Gervon Dexter has made progress but still has a long way to go, and Demarcus Walker wasn't a consistent threat. However, things are looking up for Sweat in 2025. Along with hiring Dennis Allen, the Bears added two linemen who will pursue the quarterback. This should allow Sweat to cause chaos against tackles who suddenly find themselves isolated.
Braxton Jones
Hear me out. Ryan Poles has indeed emphasized that left tackle will be a competitive position during the Combine. However, given his actions, it seems that Jones may have a chance to start at left tackle for the 2025 season. Thuney, Dalman, and Jackson have all been signed to reinforce the interior.
Considering the Bears' draft position at number 10, there isn't a definitive day-one left tackle starter available. While Will Campbell, Armand Membou, or Kelvin Banks might eventually fill that role, I believe the Bears would be selecting them as depth for a guard position or possibly to challenge second-year player Kiran Amegadjie for the swing tackle spot. Additionally, playing alongside left guard Joe Thuney should significantly enhance Jones's performance in 2024.
