It is no secret the Chicago Bears must attack their offensive line this offseason. Best believe they will; it's just a matter of how they'll go about it.
One might argue that every position except for right tackle could be upgraded, depending on how you view Braxton Jones. Without a doubt, the interior needs to be addressed, and that's where many fans have focused their attention leading up to NFL free agency.
A popular target for the Bears, among the fans and analysts, has been Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith, who is set to become a free agent next month. While Smith would be a much-needed signing for Chicago, the Bears still have more work to do.
That's where ESPN analyst and writer Matt Bowen believes the Bears' next move, after targeting Smith, would be to pair him with Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman. The 26-year-old Dalman is also set to become a free agent and is, by far and away, the best center in this year's crop.
"I matched Trey Smith to the Bears, but this team can't stop there this spring. Let's also put Dalman -- the top center in free agency -- next to Smith," Bowen wrote. "Dalman wins his assignments with movement and leverage to offset a smaller frame (6-3, 300 pounds). He's a technician on the tape, best suited for the zone run game, and his pass block win rate of 95.1% ranked ninth among centers with at least 500 snaps."
Drew Dalman and Trey Smith would be home run free agency signings for the Bears
If this were to come to fruition and the Bears actually landed both Smith and Dalman, they'd enter the 2025 NFL Draft with an upper hand. Seeing the offensive line add two of the top free agents gives Ryan Poles some flexibility then in the draft, especially early on.
Assuming the team is set with Jones and Wright at tackle, along with Smith and Dalman on the interior, that leaves just one starter yet to fill. At that rate, the Bears could potentially find that starter with one of their four picks in the top 72 selections.
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Then, using the other three selections on high-impact players gives this team a legitimate shot at a worst-to-first scenario in 2025. This is all hypothetical, of course, but the Bears absolutely have the finances to make this happen.
Prioritizing the offensive line in free agency then allows the team to go after the defensive line in the draft, which is rich with pass rushers in the top two rounds.
Free agency is less than a month away, with the legal tampering period beginning March 10.