Reports emerging from the NFL Scouting Combine are that the Chicago Bears are expected to spend heavily on the offensive line.
The area of focus for the Bears with free agency one week away appears to be on the interior offensive line. Among the names connected to the Bears at the combine last week were Drew Dalman, Aaron Banks, Will Fries, and Kevin Zeitler.
Dalman would seem to be a safe bet on being near the top of the Bears' shopping list, considering the need for a center has crossed through multiple seasons. Beyond Dalman, the expectation had been the Bears would add a guard in free agency. While Banks has been a popular name in Bears' rumors over the last week, Zeitler making the transition from the Detroit Lions to the Bears like Ben Johnson would seem to be a logical conclusion to make.
These rumors come on the heels of the Bears seemingly missing out on the opportunity to sign Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith. Last week, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Smith. Following a blueprint the Chiefs established last offseason when they traded cornerback L'Jarius Snead after placing the non-exclusive tag on him, Chris Emma of 670 The Score keeps the hope alive that a similar outcome may unfold for Smith.
"Chiefs general manager Brett Veach indicated last week that he hopes to sign Smith to a long-term contract extension, but the possibility looms that Kansas City could trade its tagged player once again," Emma speculates.
The Chicago Bears' hope for Trey Smith may not be over just yet
The expectation, however, should still be that Smith will be with the Chiefs next season. While there are salary cap implications to work through, anyone who watched the Super Bowl should realize that Kansas City won't trade Smith unless it is their very last resort. Again, as great as the addition of Smith would be to the Bears' offensive line, talent like him just doesn't hit the open market. This is why the Bears are left scouring through respectable upgrades to what they've had on their offensive line in recent seasons but the chances of hitting a home run will need to come through the 2025 NFL Draft.