A look at the Chicago Bears offensive line after first wave of free agency

The Chicago Bears signed Lucas Patrick to be the starting guard this season

The one move that Ryan Poles has made is to sign Lucas Patrick in free agency. Patrick is going to be the Chicago Bears starting center in 2022 according to his press conference. This is an upgrade over Sam Mustipher in my opinion. Mustipher struggled often due to what appeared to be a lack of strength on the inside. I know he’s been working with Olin Kreutz lately, but the Chicago Bears could not run him out as their starting center in 2022.

Lucas Patrick was a backup in Green Bay, but due to injuries, he had to start 15 games as a guard (11 at RG and 4 at LG) in 2020 and he started 13 games in 2021 — most of them at center. There is an obvious connection between Patrick and the Bears’ new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Adding Patrick is definitely an upgrade, but as we’ve already discussed, there are still holes on this roster at the offensive line position. I am not certain how Poles puts this line together for 2022, but I don’t feel confident in who is here currently. I’d have preferred they had signed Brian Allen.

If we look at the current roster, there are only two “locks” in my opinion and honestly, one of those could change too. I think it’s a guarantee that Cody Whitehair will start at one of the offensive guard spots — more than likely the left side. Lucas Patrick appears to be a lock at center, but what happens if the Chicago Bears can’t land another starting-caliber guard? What if they draft a center in the 2022 NFL Draft? There are a few variables still in play but these two seem to be set to start at their respective positions.