The Chicago Bears seemed to lose their way at some point in the past 10-15 years. There was a time when they always made sure the trenches were the priority. Between 1976 and 1991, five of their 1st round picks were offensive linemen. From 1992 to 2022, they had four. The proof is easy to find if people were wondering why the blocking never seemed to stay at a high level consistently during that period. Mercifully, GM Ryan Poles has begun changing that. He selected Darnell Wright in the 1st round in 2023, then grabbed Ozzy Trapilo in the 2nd round this year.
He is making a concerted effort to invest in the front five. That was especially true in March as he made three key moves to completely overhaul the interior. Trade acquisitions Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson arrived via trades, while Drew Dalman signed on as a free agent. For the first time in years, it feels like there is genuine optimism about how good the Bears' offensive line can be. If you don't believe it, check out where they sit in Pro Football Focus's new rankings for this year.
It's certainly uncharted territory.
Things are set to look a lot different in Chicago. Not only is the offensive line remolded, but it's also perhaps the most improved unit in the NFL.
Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who both finished among the 22 highest-graded offensive tackles in 2024, were already a promising young duo. Now, the unit has three new interior starters who represent immediate upgrades. Trade acquisition Joe Thuney has been the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL in recent years, and free-agent center Drew Dalman ranked among the top five at his position in PFF overall grade in each of the past two seasons. If right guard Jonah Jackson can stay healthy and get back to his old form, this can be one of the NFL's top offensive lines.
The Chicago Bears are built the right way for once.
Whether that holds depends on the quality of their coaching and luck. The first part shouldn't be a problem. Dan Roushar is one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the sport. His success in New Orleans speaks for itself. Ben Johnson is also one of the league's best play callers. He understands how to make life easier for the blockers. Health is where it gets tricky. Dalman missed eight games last season. Jackson has missed 22 in the past three. Thuney is known for his durability, but is also 33 years old. The Chicago Bears need some luck to keep this group mostly intact for a full season. If it breaks that way (no pun intended), this offensive line can perform up to the projections.
