Chicago Bears Offensive Line Could Be Most Improved Unit In The NFL

Teams around the NFL have been hard at work filling out their rosters during the first week of free agency. Certain units have seen boosts in their talent and potential for the 2025 season and beyond, but few have undergone a most positive change than the offensive line for the Chicago Bears.

Bears Hope To Improve A Bottom Five Offensive Line In The NFL

The unit has been a sore spot for the team for over a decade. The troubles reached a breaking point in 2024, as the team allowed the most sacks of any team in the league last year, hampering any offensive production for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. They also ranked in the bottom five in rushing yards on the year, and were 30th in third-and-long attempts.

In order to combat those shortcomings, Chicago’s new regime has focused heavily on the offensive line so far this offseason. The players on the edges will remain the same, as tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright will remain in place. But the interior of the line has seen a drastic turnover.

The Bears might have a good offensive line and I truly don’t know how to exist in that reality.

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 10, 2025

The big acquisition was a trade for left guard Joe Thuney, the four-time All-Pro who spend his last four NFL seasons with the Chiefs. Jonah Jackson, who is familiar with new head coach Ben Johnson’s system, was also brought in via trade and was a Pro Bowl selection back in 2021. Then, the Bears went out and spent some of their cap space on arguably the best available free agent center, bringing in Drew Dalman to be the man in the middle.

The trenches have obviously been a focus for Johnson in his first year as head coach. One of the keys to success for the Detroit Lions during his time as offensive coordinator was having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and he is looking to duplicate that with his new team in Chicago.

Much of the unit’s potential success rests on the players that they retained from last season. Jones has missed a combined 11 games over the past two years, so remaining healthy will be his biggest hurdle. Wright was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and hasn’t quite lived up to his potential during his first two seasons.

Sticking with the theme of solidifying the trenches, the Bears have also signed Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett to be defensive line starters in 2025.