Four spots. That is how many most Chicago Bears fans think need upgrading on the offensive line. Only right tackle Darnell Wright is safe at this point. Right guard has been a mess for years. Teven Jenkins could be a free agent as is Coleman Shelton. The toughest argument is Braxton Jones. There is no question the former 5th round pick has exceeded expectations at left tackle since getting to the league in 2022. However, people stop short of calling him a high-end starter. Most believe he is replaceable. Does GM Ryan Poles agree?
He is the one who drafted Jones and has stuck by him to this point. That said, it feels like changes are coming. The only question is whether left tackle is one of them. Draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia believes the answer is yes, but not in the way fans are thinking. While it is possible the Bears could target a left tackle in the draft, there is a stronger likelihood they plan to stick with a plan they began last off-season.
The team needs help at two if not three spots on the interior offensive line, depending on whether they choose to try and bring back Teven Jenkins, who is scheduled to be a UFA in March. I'm told the team has high
expectations for Kiran Amegadjie, the third-round pick from Yale last year, and he is expected to challenge for the starting spot at left tackle this summer.
Ryan Poles always felt Amegadjie needed time.
People have already given up on the former 3rd round pick because of what happened this past season. The rookie played 67 snaps as a pass blocker and allowed eight pressures and a sack. It was a rough debut. That said, nobody should've been surprised. Amegadjie hadn't practiced all summer, nursing a quad injury that ended his final season with Yale. He wasn't ready. The Bears threw him out there because they had little choice. Poles had always intended for him to take this year to learn from the sidelines.
Amegadjie will have a full off-season to prepare for 2025. He has an offensive head coach guiding the way. Ben Johnson has developed talented linemen before. If the young tackle puts in the work, he has more than enough ability to challenge Jones for that starting job. Presuming this is Ryan Poles' plan, it means that all resources will be focused on improving the interior offensive line in the spring. If Amegadjie blossoms, everything could come together fast. If not, the Bears will know what their next priority is in 2026.
