00:00The Chicago Bears are looking at a pivotal offseason.
00:03We've all seen the kind of impact a strong offensive line can have,
00:06especially when watching teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
00:10dominate their respective championships.
00:13It's no secret that Chicago has a glaring weakness up front,
00:16and fixing that needs to be at the top of their priority list
00:19if they want to get to the next level.
00:21So, how much will it cost to fix the Chicago Bears offensive line?
00:25Well, that's what we're here to dive into today.
00:28Let's start with the good news.
00:29The Bears already have two solid bookends on the offensive line.
00:33Tevin Jenkins at right guard has shown he can be a force,
00:37and Braxton Jones, despite some struggles, has shown flashes at left tackle.
00:42But here's the thing.
00:44The Bears need more than just a couple of good pieces.
00:47They need a whole new attitude up front,
00:50and that's going to require a good bit of cash.
00:54Now, before we go too deep into the money side of things,
00:58let's talk about what the Bears are working with in terms of resources.
01:02Chicago has a hefty $64 million in salary cap space as of January 2025.
01:10That's not just good, it's great.
01:13It's enough to make some real moves this offseason
01:16and shore up the trenches without gutting the rest of the roster.
01:20But the question remains, where do they allocate that money?
01:23To answer that, let's break it down into three major steps.
01:27First things first, let's talk about the center position.
01:30The Bears have struggled with consistency in the middle of the offensive line for years.
01:35From Cody Whitehair's decline to the struggles of Sam Mustafer,
01:39Lucas Patrick's injuries, and Coleman Shelton's mediocre play,
01:44the Bears haven't had stability here in a long time.
01:47This is where the Bears need to spend big.
01:50So, one name that keeps coming up is Drew Dallman from the Atlanta Falcons.
01:54The 26-year-old has 57 games of experience, and according to Pro Football Focus,
02:00Dallman's run-blocking grades are solid, though his pass-blocking leaves a little to be desired.
02:05Still, for a team looking to make a quick improvement, he could be a solid option.
02:10Dallman's projected four-year contract is set to be worth around $46 million,
02:15with $27 million in guaranteed money.
02:18That's a pretty standard deal for a center of his caliber.
02:21It might seem like a lot, but if the Bears want to stabilize the middle of their offensive line,
02:26they're going to need to make this kind of investment.
02:28If Dallman is the guy, he'll be a cornerstone for the next few years,
02:32and for a team like the Bears, that kind of continuity is key.
02:36Now, let's shift our focus to the guard spots.
02:39Here's the reality.
02:41The Bears need to upgrade at both guard positions.
02:44The depth just isn't there, and there's no clear starter at either spot.
02:48This is where Ryan Poles can really make his mark this offseason.
02:53One name at the top of the list is Trey Smith.
02:55The right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs,
02:58Smith is one of the best at his position,
03:00and if he hits free agency, the Bears need to be all over it.
03:04PFF has him pegged for a four-year deal worth $82 million,
03:09with $50 million in guarantees.
03:11That's a big investment, but it's one that could pay huge dividends.
03:15On the other hand, the Bears could look for a more affordable option,
03:18especially considering how many quality guards are set to hit the market.
03:22One guy who stands out is Will Fries from the Indianapolis Colts.
03:26Fries is only 26 years old, and while he's not a superstar, he's solid.
03:31He's projected to get a four-year deal worth around $57 million,
03:35with $30 million in guarantees.
03:38Yet he could provide an affordable yet steady presence in the middle.
03:42If the Bears don't land Smith,
03:44they'll need to look at a mix of veterans and younger players with potential.
03:48Kevin Zeitler, a seasoned veteran with the New York Giants,
03:51could be an option, but he's 34 and his best days are behind him.
03:55It's more of a one-year deal to provide leadership and stability.
03:59On the flip side, Aaron Banks from the San Francisco 49ers is another interesting name.
04:05But Banks is young at just 27 years old and has been solid for the 49ers.
04:10He's projected to get a three-year $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed.
04:17Let's talk about the left tackle position.
04:20Braxton Jones had a rough season in 2024.
04:24Sure, there were flashes of promise, but overall, it's clear the Bears could upgrade here.
04:29And considering that Jones suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions,
04:35the team needs to prepare for the possibility that he might not be ready for training camp.
04:42This is where the Bears could look for a bridge solution.
04:45Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens is an intriguing name.
04:49Stanley is still one of the better left tackles in the league,
04:51but injuries have slowed him down in recent years.
04:54He's projected to get a two-year $40 million deal with $27 million in guarantees.
05:00If the Bears decide they can't rely on Jones
05:03to be the long-term answer, bringing in a veteran like Stanley could be a smart move.
05:08Another option could be Cam Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
05:12Robinson is solid, but not spectacular.
05:14He's expected to get a three-year $56 million deal with $35 million guaranteed.
05:20If the Bears want to shore up the left tackle position
05:23and give Jones a little more time to develop, this could be a good option.
05:28But don't forget, the Bears could also look at post-hype sleepers.
05:32A guy like Jedrick Wills from the Cleveland Browns could be a steal.
05:36Wills is still young and has a lot of potential, but his future with the Browns is uncertain.
05:41If the Bears can get him on a one-year $3 million deal,
05:45it could be a great, low-risk, high-reward move.
05:50So, what are we looking at in terms of total cost?
05:53If the Bears target Dallman at center, Trey Smith at guard,
05:56and either Stanley or Robinson at left tackle, we're looking at a significant investment.
06:01Dallman's $46 million deal, Smith's $82 million deal, and Stanley's $40 million
06:08deal would put the Bears' total investment in these three positions alone at around $168 million.
06:18It's a big chunk of their available cap space, but it's worth it.
06:21If the Bears can shore up the offensive line with experienced, talented players,
06:26it will make a world of difference for their offense.
06:28No more worrying about a weak front that fails to protect their quarterback
06:32or open up holes in the running game.
06:34With a revamped offensive line, Justin Fields will have more time to make plays
06:38and the running backs will have more opportunities to explode.
06:43But here's the thing, the Bears aren't just going to stop with free agency.
06:46They're also going to look to the draft to find long-term solutions.
06:50With the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft,
06:54they could look at a tackle or guard who can step in right away and contribute.
06:58Even if they sign veterans, adding young, high-upside players through the draft
07:03is key to building a sustainable offensive line.
07:07The Bears are sitting on a significant amount of cap space this offseason,
07:11and if they want to make a serious run in 2025, they need to fix that offensive line.
07:17Whether it's bringing in a new center like Drew Dallman,
07:19a top-tier guard like Trey Smith, or a veteran left tackle like Ronnie Stanley,
07:24it's clear that Chicago has the opportunity to make a big splash in free agency.
07:30At the end of the day, the cost to fix the offensive line could be upwards of $150 million.
07:36But if the Bears want to protect their future franchise quarterback
07:40and create a balanced offense, it's money well spent.
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