It has been believed all offseason that the Chicago Bears have one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL in guard Joe Thuney.
Winning the first-ever Protector of the Year award last season should have been the first indication of that, but there are many talented interior linemen in the league. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler released the latest results of his survey of league executives, scouts, and coaches, determining who are the best at each position, with Thuney ranked just fifth among interior offensive linemen but still receiving praise.
"He's losing a little lateral quickness, but he's so technically sound and tough and sturdy and stronger than you'd think that it doesn't really matter," an NFC executive said. "He was awesome last year."
"He kicked our ass last year," one NFL defensive coach added.
Should Joe Thuney barely make the top five among interior offensive linemen?
Thuney allowed 15 pressures and one quarterback hit, with zero sacks in 686 pass-blocking snaps last year. He received a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 79.4, ranking fifth among 81 guards. All that success throughout his first campaign with the Bears resulted in that Protector of the Year Award, a Pro Bowl selection, and a first-team All-Pro selection.
The difference he made to this Bears offensive line makes it more disrespectful that he is only ranked fifth. He did so much more for Chicago than is being said.
This offensive line went from allowing a league-high 68 sacks in 2024 to just 24 last year. The Bears also were the NFL's worst rushing attack in 2024, but then moved all the way up to third this past year.
Sure, the other additions like center Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo played a massive role in that. Ultimately, though, it was Thuney who made all the difference in the world and has become the team's most important lineman.
It should also be noted that Jackson was briefly mentioned in Fowler's article under the "also receiving votes" category but did not make the top 10. Jackson allowed 31 pressures, three sacks, and one quarterback hit in 670 pass-blocking snaps last season.
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Fowler's survey of the interior linemen shows there are a ton of good players on the line, with eight of the top 10 receiving at least one first-place vote. Bears fans will not be convinced otherwise, as they have seen the work Thuney has done, and he plays like the NFL's best interior lineman.
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