The Chicago Bears believe they’ve found their head coach of the future. Ben Johnson is widely respected as one of the best offensive minds in the game. He should be able to help Caleb Williams ascend at quarterback. The next obvious step is working to fortify the roster for next season. Former GM Ryan Pace spared no expense in 2018 after he hired Matt Nagy. Chicago signed Allen Robinson in free agency and completed a blockbuster trade for star pass rusher Khalil Mack. Could GM Ryan Poles take a similarly aggressive approach?
People around the NFL seem to think so. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided some updates regarding the 2025 free agent class. Two specific names were mentioned as targets the Bears are expected to pursue in March. The first is Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith.
Some inside the league are watching Chicago here. General manager Ryan Poles, who needs to drastically improve his interior offensive line for new coach Ben Johnson, was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Smith. Several teams have him as the top overall free agent.
Smith has made the Pro Bowl and won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs since being drafted in 2021. He’s on the cusp of winning a third next week. There is no question he would instantly upgrade the Bears’ interior. The other name to watch is Drew Dalman out of Atlanta.
As the main guy at the position in a soft market, Dalman has a chance to receive top-three money among centers, surpassing Lloyd Cushenberry III’s four-year, $50 million deal with the Titans in 2024. Chicago needs to address its interior offensive line, and New England also could be among teams looking for center help.
The Chicago Bears would gain loads of flexibility with those two.
Not only would it immediately bolster their weakest unit on the roster, but it would also give Poles much-needed maneuverability going into the draft. It would not instantly force the Bears to draft the best offensive lineman on their board. They could take a player at another position of need if one has a higher grade, such as an edge rusher, defensive tackle, or even a running back. Everything depends on how the board falls. Make no mistake. Poles will have plenty of competition for Smith and Dalman. Lots of other teams need offensive line help. He will need to be ready to pay plenty of money and have a strong recruiting pitch. Having Johnson and Williams present should help his argument. If those people in the league are right, expectations for this team should soar by the end of spring.
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My man Ben will get us the REAL 10-Deep-Strong on the OL since that’s what is needed to get though the 2025 season at the minimum.
If Braxton is the starter then he needs a close to ready backup. Grey Zabel looks interesting. 2nd rounder.
If Braxton isn’t the starter spend 10 on Campbell. Banks won’t be there.
What we need – Graham, Carter, Campbell or Banks are unlikely to drop to 10. Unless we take Pearce there, we should trade back for add’l picks and grab either Booker or Simmons.
$22mil is too much for Smith ranked 2 spots above TJenkins. Dalman gave up 2 sacks 5 penalties in 1/2 the snaps of Shelton. I’d rather spend cap money on Edge (Sweat or Young), Guard (Zeitler), and Safety (Holland). Then, we draft OT, G, C, RB, DE and DT.
@Arnie – I agree that 22 million is too much for a guard. I like your thinking on drafting Booker, but I think it’s too high for a guard alone. I personally would take Banks at 10 and kick him inside while you have Jones in the last year of his deal. Then,, next year, you can decide to resign Jones or let him walk if his demand is too high and move Banks out to tackle. It think having Banks and Kiran developing gives you a legitimate shot of having the left side locked down for the future, and… Read more »
The first job of a GM during the first wave of free agency is to insure that the team does not have to draft any position out of pure need (with the possible exception of the QB position). If the Bears have no options at one guard position going into the draft, and for some insane reason Abdul Carter falls to 10, the bears shouldn’t have to draft Will Johnson to play guard over Carter, a likely star to superstar at DE. Now, with 70 mil or so of cap space before cuts, the Bears are in position to make… Read more »