Since the regular season ended for the Chicago Bears, fans have already been busy hypothesizing over exactly how to improve this roster over the course of the offseason.
Hiring Ben Johnson as the team's new head coach sure brought areas into further focus, specifically on the offensive side of the ball, of course. One of the first priorities for Johnson and Ryan Poles, this offseason, is to improve the offensive line.
To say the line needs improvement is a drastic understatement. Caleb Williams was the most-sacked quarterback in football a year ago and that absolutely must change if his development is going to stay on track.
Between free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears are in a good spot to be able to improve here. It all starts in March when the new league year begins, and one specific offensive line target has been a big topic among Bears fans.
Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith is likely to reset the market at the guard position once he signs a deal in free agency, but his playoff performance was alarming enough to potentially impact his price tag. Prior to the postseason, Smith looked like a slam-dunk to become the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Trey Smith's Super Bowl and postseason could have brought down his free agency price tag for the Bears
Smith was part of a Chiefs offensive line which allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to sack Patrick Mahomes a whopping six times in Super Bowl 59. The scariest part? Philly didn't blitz once. The Chiefs' offensive line allowed an Eagles pressure rate of 38.1 percent and didn't face a single blitz.
That's alarming.
But, on an individual level, it's right on par with Smith's postseason as a whole.
Going into the Super Bowl, Smith allowed five pressures, four hurries and a quarterback hit in two playoff games this season. Now, he did not allow a sack in those two games against Houston and Buffalo.
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But, PFF gave him pass blocking grades of only 29.6 and 50.7 in those games, respectively. And, his overall grades weren't much better (48.3 and 49.5).
Sure, Smith went the entire regular season and two postseason games without allowing a sack. But, his lackluster performances in the playoffs and Super Bowl could result in his price tag going down.
Does that mean Bears fans should be concerned? Not necessarily.
Last year, Smith played real well in all of his postseason games, the Super Bowl included. This might just be a case where the Chiefs' offensive line, as a whole, was a weakness. Even Tom Brady commented on the fact that the Chiefs couldn't pass protect when his Buccaneers beat them a few years back in the Super Bowl, and in Sunday's game against Philly, nothing had changed.
So, the Bears' price tag for Smith could be coming down. That's a positive. His postseason performances were a little alarming, but if the Bears can put together a stronger line at all positions, including snagging Smith, then they'll be in good shape.