So what are some legitimate o-line options? A list of some dudes.

[BearDown1]

If Trey Smith hit's FA you throw everything you got at him. It's time to invest in the damn o-line the right way and stop being cheap asses about it. I don't care how much it costs. Then you go and draft the top LT in the draft. You have LT, RT and RG solidified for the next several years.

 

[Nelly]

If Trey Smith hit's FA you throw everything you got at him. It's time to invest in the damn o-line the right way and stop being cheap asses about it. I don't care how much it costs. Then you go and draft the top LT in the draft.

The only problem is that unless the team is up against it and thus can't re-sign a guy, him hitting the open market can be a red flag. Trey Smith is an all-world G at 26 years old. That seems like a guy you bring back to your team as a cornerstone of the franchise, not someone you let walk. If they're willing to let him walk and they know him better than anyone then why? That's why I've assumed that he'll be sticking around KC and they'll do what's necessary to make sure of that.

 

[1ke]

Have to sign one and draft one at the bare fuckin minimum.

Also, draft a Samoan. Keep it simple.

 

[Marley's Liberality]

you have to triage with this group because you can't fix everything in one year:

1. they must get the center position fixed. It isn't a great year for that either in the draft or free agency. I would look to free agency because that position MUST be covered with someone no worse than middle third of the league

2. interior offensive line. We have nobody. Jenkins doesn't want to come back and everything else was terrible. Maybe Amegadije projects to a starting spot here, but I simply cannot leave it to him after what he showed last year. If they go with a lineman at 10, they can start him at one of the guard spots. Otherwise, a veteran from the Lions who would fill a gap would be Zeitler. Old but still with some tread and I'm sure he'd love to stay in this system. Then draft someone in 2-3 rounds.

3. I think we just have to be satisfied with what we have at tackle. Wright, Jones with Amegadije constitutes the strength of this dreadful OL.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Donovan Jackson in the 2nd round.

Lot of people saying round 1 for him

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

You have to believe Ben Johnson's top priority, acquisition-wise, coming into this job will be to build up the o-line. He's seen first-hand in Detroit what that does for an offense and a quarterback learning a system.

Now Poles can't just claim he's doing so for 4 years. Johnson will be wanting a competent o-line sooner rather than later.

What are the legitimate options this offseason to finally start the process?

Presumably, the Bears have ONE starting-caliber offensive linemen who you can see having a future with the team---Darnell Wright.

If you're Ben Johnson, where do you go from here?

3 picks in the top 41. Do you draft all o-linemen?

Kelvin Banks

Will Campbell

^^probably both late top 10'ers. might be a perfect first pick for the Bears


Wyatt Milum

Ersery out of Minnesota

Tyler Booker

Cam Williams

^^mid-to-late first-round grades. probably not there for the Bears in the 2nd.

2nd round grade guys (remember, the Bears have 2 second-rounders):
Membou out of Mizzou

Marcus Mbow (Purdue)

Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)

Jared Wilson (Georgia)

Josh Conerly (Oregon)

Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)

2nd round-ish:
Emery Jones (LSU)

Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

Ajani Cornelius (Oregon)

Imma be real. If the Bears can get a dude named Cornelius, I'm in.

View attachment 43196

Do you sign 2 fairly high-profile pass protectors?

• Ronnie Stanley
• Cam Robinson
• Dan Moore Jr.
• Alaric Jackson
• Tyron Smith
• Trey Smith
• Zack Martin
• Mekhi Becton
• Kevin Zeitler
• Will Fries
• Ryan Kelly
• Nick Harris
• Bradley Bozeman
• Kendrick Green
• Evan Brown

^^Admittedly, this is not a super strong o-line free agency class, but there are some guys who would be net positives, for sure.

Those free agents are very meh. Should be lots of good options in the draft though

 

[alswank87]

If Trey Smith hit's FA you throw everything you got at him. It's time to invest in the damn o-line the right way and stop being cheap asses about it. I don't care how much it costs. Then you go and draft the top LT in the draft. You have LT, RT and RG solidified for the next several years.

You could probably get a C in this draft too.

 

[msadows]

Lot of people saying round 1 for him

Trade a 2nd and the 3rd to move up to the late first then.

He to me is more impressive than the Left Tackle from Ohio state who is going above him.

My ideal would be to throw crazy money at trey smith and ryan kelly and then draft that guy.

You'd have a legit OL then, hopefully, as long as braxton comes back healthy and plays similar to his prior level.

 

[SugarWalls]

Invest huge in the interior OL and you can live with Braxton at LT

 

[msadows]

Invest huge in the interior OL and you can live with Braxton at LT

Agreed. People say he gets bullrushed but so do plenty of other NFL Tackles.

You can live with that as his weakness if caleb has a pocket to step into. The problems are when your center is being bullrushed and your tackle is too on the same play.

 

[MakeMyDay]

Invest huge in the interior OL and you can live with Braxton at LT

Yes -Regardless of how the dominoes fall in the draft - The biggest fix needed is interior OL

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Invest huge in the interior OL and you can live with Braxton at LT

I just worry about that injury is all. If he’s 100% then I can live with him

 

[dennehy]

Becton getting too much love imo. He was a bust who popped over to PHI who has a top 3 OL and looks decent. Dude only looks serviceable next to all pros and probowlers.

No thanks

He was more of a bust a tackle, and looks better at guard.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Agreed. People say he gets bullrushed but so do plenty of other NFL Tackles.

You can live with that as his weakness if caleb has a pocket to step into. The problems are when your center is being bullrushed and your tackle is too on the same play.

Would love a vet center with some ass kickers drafted at guard

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

2025 NFL Free Agent Rankings: Top 75 players set to enter free agency

From some marquee receivers to ageless impact veterans, here are PFF's top 75 free agents for 2025.

www.pff.com

 

[jsu34]

Already been said, but focus on IOL. Center and Guard. Live with Jones for now.

 

[Les Grossman]

He was more of a bust a tackle, and looks better at guard.

Yes I know, but he's playing on an OL that is stacked. I think it's more that than him transitioning to OG. He's also super tall for an OG

 

[Nads786]

I think a better scheme and play caller will help as well. Other teams lose their LT Vikings or SF and their offense doesn’t implode like ours.

 

[monkforasia]

A lot of good choices in the mid-late first. Would not mind trading down and picking 3-4 Oline and then a dline prospect with the early 2nd.

 

[Shepard]

The only problem is that unless the team is up against it and thus can't re-sign a guy, him hitting the open market can be a red flag. Trey Smith is an all-world G at 26 years old. That seems like a guy you bring back to your team as a cornerstone of the franchise, not someone you let walk. If they're willing to let him walk and they know him better than anyone then why? That's why I've assumed that he'll be sticking around KC and they'll do what's necessary to make sure of that.

One thing to keep in mind with Trey Smith is his medical red flag that caused him to drop in the 6th round for a reason. Mike Mayock has talked openly about the Raiders team doctor prohibiting the Raiders from drafting him.

My guess is that this will be a non-issue moving forward as it hasn't been a problem since he's been in the league, but worth mentioning. Poles will also be in the know here as he was part of that staff that drafted Smith.

With all of this said- Bears had better be pounding the table for Smith and make him the highest paid G in the league if they need to.