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.
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Hey dipshit sally….Kiran was getting drafted by someone and would get paid regardless. Your endless nonsense really shows your lack of intelligence.
Perhaps just as importantly, Poles had empathy for Kiran, liked him or identified with him in some manner, and wanted him to have a lot money for his life regardless of any football outcomes.
@ManGod — You could be right. Kiran Amegadjie has some talent. We’ll soon find out more about his: actual NFL “proficiency, heart and value.” Amegadjie’s “problem” (even more than his inexperience; lack of NFL competition; poor pad level and lack of functional strength) is that not only may his left leg “come apart” — but other injuries occur, when players compensate (as those who suffered a quadriceps tendon rupture do) for the “play” in their knee. Kiran spent considerable time on the Injury Report, following his first start. Remember? But, Kiran Amegadjie is a Chicago Bear now, and I wish… Read more »
K Amegadjie is going to surprise alot of people on here this coming off-season and through OTA’s and pre-season. Braxton Jones may very well be usurped by K Amegadjie at LT, and I do look for R Poles to resign T Jenkins before FA because the Bear’s do not have the flexibility to replace 4 OL starters without surrendering to much depth and draft capitol, and ignoring several other needs across the team’s landscape from D line to S and O line to RB. So, unless B Johnson and EB find a way to get alot more consistency from D… Read more »
Poles like people and hyenas do not really change. I have yet to witness a paradigm shift inside Poles’ inept and smitten mind. Others better take over for Poles behind the scenes and let him be mostly a symbolic leader like the UK royal family members. Just provide him with courtesy, respect, money, and high-profile media coverage. Then see what happens and give him credit too.