5 Bears players who will be gone in 2024 and their potential replacements

2. Cody Whitehair, Guard/Center

Cody Whitehair's time in Chicago is pretty much up. The veteran lineman has given the Bears nearly eight solid years, but his play has fallen in recent seasons. At one point, Whitehair was one of the more underrated interior lineman in the league. His ability to play both guard and center for the Bears, over the years, has been extremely valuable. It has come into play quite a few times when injuries have occurred.

But, this offensive line has to get younger. Whitehair is not the player he once was, and especially when asked to play center. Hopefully, the Bears find a replacement for both Whitehair and Lucas Patrick. But, with the focus on Whitehair, they could opt for a Big Ten lineman to replace him.

Possible Replacement: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson is likely to be a Day 2 prospect who can step right in and start for the Bears. The 6-foot-4 Jackson is in his third season with Ohio State and second-straight year starting every game. He is a big, powerful, dense frame and fits really well into zone schemes, which is what the Bears like to run.