The Chicago Bears did everything they could to prepare the offense for a significant step forward this season. They hired Shane Waldron as a new offensive coordinator. Caleb Williams took over at quarterback as the #1 overall pick. D’Andre Swift signed as a free agent to bolster their rushing attack. Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze arrived to add firepower in the passing game. The offensive line was the one area GM Ryan Poles couldn’t address with any significant resources. It was hoped that continuity (four of five starters were returning) would keep things stable this year.
It now seems that the gamble was a misguided one. Chicago has allowed 16 sacks in four games and has one of the worst rushing attacks in the league. Mental errors and health issues plague the unit. There isn’t much the team can do right now except try to find a combination that works. However, a new article from The Athletic suggests Poles has future plans for the line, and it doesn’t include all but one of the current starters.
“When Waldron first interviewed with the Bears, Eberflus and Poles provided him with glimpses of their vision for their team. Their full plans weren’t revealed but specific things were discussed. Waldron knew what the Bears had: the first pick in the 2024 draft, Moore as their No. 1 receiver and a young starting bookend tackle in Wright, the No. 10 pick.”
Notice how left tackle Braxton Jones and left guard Teven Jenkins weren’t mentioned? Most believed those two were potential long-term fixtures for the line. The fact Poles didn’t feel the need to mention them when recruiting Waldron feels like a telling sign.
Ryan Poles will have the resources for a major overhaul.
He holds three picks in the first two rounds of next year’s draft. A 1st rounder and two 2nd rounders. They’re also projected to have more than $72 million in salary cap space, with only Keenan Allen and Darrell Taylor as notable in-house free agents to think about. If the Bears want to take a big swing on the offensive line, they can. Some interesting names, such as Trey Smith, Alaric Jackson, Zack Martin, Will Fries, and Drew Dalman, will be available. It isn’t crazy to think the Bears will have three new starters up front next year.
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This isn’t impossible to pull off. The Kansas City Chiefs had major offensive line problems in 2020. Going into the subsequent off-season, they made it a mission to fortify the front. They traded for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., signed top free agent Joey Thuney at left guard, and drafted two rookie starters: 2nd round pick Creed Humphrey and 6th round pick Smith. The turnaround was immediate. Ryan Poles has the resources to do the same. It comes down to whether he can do the proper evaluations.
Sally…you weren’t right. You might think so but you’re not. Sorry loser
Can I trust Poles to make wise/BPA selections with the first four 2025 picks? I am on the barbed wire fence, and it is already hurting. A very salient draft is coming for the Bears!
Poles has had three season to rebuild an O-line that was in better shape when he arrived than it is today. Fans are learning slowly – after unplugging their ears and eyes – making player assessments and concluding that other than having two first picks of the first rounds fall in your lap…you really haven’t accomplished that much. However, you did waste all the cap space and unproductive signings. Also, Poles failed to build out the roster correctly, and half of his coaching staff have performed miserably.
Isn’t it interesting that KC has had several OL changes in the last 4 years and still wins? They went from FA LT Orlando Brown to replacing him with Wanya Morris, added FA RT Jawaan Taylor and drafted C Humphrey and RG Trey Smith (a 6th round pick!), both top 5 PFF and the unit continues to be one of the top 10 OLs despite the turnover. Secret? Is it the GM? No. It’s the OL coach. No matter who the players are, they play well. Bears need a guy like Andy Heck. KC also has had a revolving door… Read more »
Hopefully the offensive line works itself out a little anyways. It would be nice to have a coach who could take players and mold them. The Bears current Oline coach seems to be unable to do any of this. Like to see Bates and Kiram a time or two this year, perhaps more. With all their picks next year I think the Bears will concentrate on the trenches. Why they started addressing this last I don’t know. But it’s still early. Bears have a special teams and a Defense to carry them for a couple more games. 4-2 wouldn’t be… Read more »