Although free agency is still a couple of months away, rumors and potential team fits are already surfacing. The Chicago Bears, projected to have $83.2 million in cap space, will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch as they aim to build a more stable roster around their young quarterback, Caleb Williams. One key area the Bears will focus on in both free agency and the 2025 NFL draft is the offensive line. Williams was sacked an NFL-high 69 times during his rookie year, creating a pressing need to improve the protection around him. With players like Teven Jenkins likely leaving, the Bears will need to bring in more reliable, durable talent.
This is where things get interesting: Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently named the Bears as a top potential suitor for Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith, who he ranked as the No. 2 free agent in the upcoming class.
“Smith should be a top target for the Bears, who have a need at right guard and $83.2 million in cap space. Chicago’s offseason should focus on improving quarterback Caleb Williams’ supporting cast, and landing Smith would help achieve that.”
Trey Smith Would Be an Ideal Fit
Trey Smith played 1,115 snaps at right guard last season, giving up zero sacks and allowing only five QB hits. He also played all 17 games, showcasing his durability. The offensive linemen who have played over 1,000 snaps this season and allowed zero sacks are:
- Creed Humphrey
- Trey Smith
- Joe Thuney
This short list highlights just how impressive Trey Smith’s performance has been.
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Trey Smith blocking through the whistle 😤
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📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lLoeQ2khA2— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2024
The former 6th-round pick in 2021 would bring both stability and veteran leadership to the Bears offensive line. While Chicago would likely need to make a significant financial commitment to acquire Smith, it would be a move well worth the price.
Draft two guards higher up, sign more of them as UDFAs. Don’t spend so much money on one player unless he is the last hole on the offensive line, not when there are four holes needing to be filled. (Remember one bad apple–Davis? Or two–Shelton?)
Thus: 1st DE, 2nd DT, 2nd IOL, 3rd IOL, in some combination.
I got to believe that KC will find a way to sign him before he hits free agency. What kind of message does that send your franchise QB if they let one of the best guards in the NFL sign elsewhere? It would be great if the Bears sign him, but I’m not confident it’ll happen.
6th round pick in 2021. Wasn’t Ryan Poles apart of the KC front office during that draft? Now, Trey Smith is considered to be the #2 free agent. Yet, I’ve read so much bullshit about how Ryan Poles doesn’t have an eye for the trenches. The hypocrithypocrites will argue he didn’t make the call.
No single player, especially a guard, is worth that much money when the rest of the line is/might be inept, suspect, fragile, or missing in action. Opportunity costs?
Gotta agree with @TGena. Getting Trey Smith is a nice fantasy, but it’s probably better than 80% that he stays in KC. If he doesn’t, he’ll get a FA deal that makes the one Robert Hunt got look like chump change, resetting the market for a great guard, and probably pricing himself out of Poles’s range, even with $80 mil available on the cap.
Seriously, would you spend $32 million a year to get Trey Smith? Some other team might. Poles almost certainly won’t.