Bears Have Quickly Transformed Their Offensive Line

BEARS’ NEWCOMERS

Throughout the 2024 season, the Bears fielded subpar offensive line combinations.

Some inconsistencies were due to constant injuries on the line. The injuries forced backups such as Jake Curhan, Kiran Amegadjie, and Larry Borom into the starting lineup, leading the team to field the most different starting combinations throughout the year.

Jonah Jackson: RG

Ryan Poles’ first change was to send a 2025 sixth-round draft pick (via Pittsburgh) to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for OG Jonah Jackson. Prior to his time in LA, Jackson spent his first four seasons in Detroit. While there, he played under current Bears head coach (then-Lions assistant) Ben Johnson.

Jackson earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 as the Lions’ left guard, a position he played for the duration of his Detroit career. However, the Bears’ subsequent acquisition of Joe Thuney slots him into the RG spot in Chicago. In his shortened 2024 campaign (Jackson played only four games), he still managed to post the highest pass block win rate as a guard at 98.5%.

Although he struggled to stay on the field in his lone year as a Ram, Jackson is an instant upgrade in Chicago, where he’ll slot right in at RG.

Joe Thuney: LG

A veteran of both the Patriots and Chiefs dynasties, four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney is Chicago’s biggest addition to the line. The 32-year-old guard has been named AP First Team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons. Thuney is a nine-year NFL veteran, and in that time, he started 146 games while only missing two. He’s one of the league’s premier guards and ironmen.

In addition to becoming the best Bears offensive lineman in recent memory, Thuney’s veteran presence and championship pedigree will greatly benefit second-year QB Caleb Williams’ development.

Drew Dalman: C

The three-year Falcons starter was the consensus top center available, and the Bears moved quickly to sign him once free agency opened. His three-year deal, worth $42 million, makes him the league’s second-highest-paid center.

After a failed experiment with Coleman Shelton, Dalman brings much-needed consistency to the Bears’ line. In 2024, Dalman was PFF’s fourth highest graded center and allowed only a single QB hit. The 26-year-old is yet another instant upgrade, with the upside of being Chicago’s starter for many years to come.

BEARS’ RETURNING STARTERS

Braxton Jones: LT

As the longest tenured starter on the Bears line, Jones has become an underrated tackle.

Jones’ size and strength make him an impressive blocker capable of holding off premier pass rushers. However, his lack of discipline — Jones has been penalized 28 times in his career — needs to be improved. Playing alongside Thuney will benefit Jones greatly, and the two will form a formidable left side duo.

Darnell Wright: RT

Much of the dialogue surrounding Wright focuses on the Bears choosing him over Jalen Carter in the 2023 NFL draft. Since Carter has emerged as a premier DT, many have been quick to hold Wright to an unfair standard. The fact is, Wright has been as good or better than every offensive lineman in his class.

In the second half of the 2024 season, Wright flipped a switch, only allowing two QB hits. If the 23-year-old can continue to improve, he’ll become one of the best right tackles in the league.

The Bears successfully rebuilt their offensive line in just a week. However, expect Chicago to use at least one of their 2025 draft picks on another offensive lineman. With three new starters, two young tackles, and plenty of draft picks to spend, the Bears have set their lineup for substantial improvement in the 2025 season.