Chicago Bears: Way-too-early prediction of 2021 Week 1 offensive starters

Here are who will likely start on the Chicago Bears offensive line in Week 1

Many Bears fans were probably rejoicing when they heard the news that Charles Leno was being released. The thing is, be careful what you wish for. Leno was not an elite left tackle, but as a seventh-round draft pick, Leno because a better than average left tackle in the league. With his and Bobby Massie’s departure, the starting offenisve line will have a new pair of bookends to start the 2021 NFL season.

Let’s start in the middle and work our way outwards. As much as I like Sam Mustipher and appreciate his performance last season, I think Cody Whitehair will end up moving back inside to play center. This means James Daniels will kick back out to left guard — the position he was dominating last year before his pectoral injury.

Who will start at right guard then? Well, I think it could end up being Alex Bars. Bars has shown versatility to play many positions on the offensive line, but I think the Bears can hide him at right guard where he will continue to grow. This leaves the offensive tackle spots.

Ideally, Teven Jenkins would have been slotted in as the right tackle this year — the spot he projects better as in the NFL. However, with the Chicago Bears current situation, Teven Jenkins will likely be the starting left tackle in 2021 and Germain Ifedi will be the starting right tackle.

To recap: Teven Jenkins will start at left tackle, James Daniels will start at left guard, Cody Whitehair will have to take back center responsibilities, Alex Bars will fill in at right guard and Germain Ifedi will finish off the line at right tackle. This is how I foresee the line shaking out at this point. The only other option is if Sam Mustipher proves himself enough to start at center, moving Cody Whitehair to left guard, James Daniles to right guard and Alex Bars to the bench.

This will leave Larry Borom as the backup/swing tackle too.