6 Offensive Linemen the Bears could sign or draft in the offseason

Linemen the Chicago Bears could sign in Free Agency

With a number of high-profile players potentially available this offseason, the Chicago Bears may end up spending a decent chunk of their remaining cap space on improving their offensive line. With Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones, these three offensive linemen could help turn around Chicago’s front five from a struggling unit to one of the best in the league.

Elgton Jenkins

Bears fans are certainly aware of Green Bay Packers guard Elgton Jenkins. He he has been a part of protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the better part of four seasons — dating back to his rookie campaign in 2019. Jenkins has been a consistent and reliable starter for the Packers, missing only nine games due to injury in 2021. Besides his time on the sideline, Jenkins has started every game in his career since Week 3 of his rookie season and has the versatility to make up for other injuries across the line.

Naturally a guard, Jenkins is effective as an interior lineman. However, he was also solid as a tackle — playing left tackle for the majority of 2021 in relief of injured David Bakhtiari. In his past three seasons, Jenkins has played every position across the offensive line. His ability to plug and play across the front five would make him an interesting addition to a Chicago line that has been inconsistent and will likely face injuries throughout the season (as will practically every NFL offensive line).

At 6’5″ and 311 pounds, Jenkins would be an ideal fit to put at left guard alongside Braxton Jones. Jenkins is likely familiar with many of the schemes that the Bears currently run, and any relationship with Luke Getsy (as well as the Packers being unwilling to give him a large contract) could influence the Pro Bowl guard to come to Chicago.

Jack Conklin

The eighth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Jack Conklin is a career starter at right tackle for both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns. He could be a free agent in 2023. At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, Conklin is a prototypical right tackle and has been consistent as both a run and pass blocker when healthy. However, his health has been somewhat of an issue, especially more recently.

Conklin has missed nearly 20 games through seven seasons, but when healthy, he is almost guaranteed to be the starter at right tackle. A two-time first-team All-Pro tackle, Conklin will only be 29 years old at the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, and as the Browns have salary cap issues of their own, as well as a decent number of starters to resign, it’s more than possible that Conklin will become a free agent at some point during the offseason.

Garrett Bradbury

Through four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Garrett Bradbury has been a consistent contributor and leader at the center position, starting all 57 games that he has been healthy for. With only four penalties per year through his career, Bradbury has helped instrument one of the most underrated offensive lines with the Vikings and has lived up to the first-round pick that the Vikings spent on the former North Carolina State player.

A traditional center, Bradbury has experience through college and the NFL at all three interior line spots but is one of the best centers in the league today. With only two sacks allowed so far this season, Bradbury is not a guarantee to be available in free agency this offseason, but if he hits the open market, the Bears should be one of the first teams in line to try to sign him.