The Chicago Bears are steadfast in their plan to ensure Caleb Williams' rookie season is a success and that he is quarterback, ending the misery that the organization has had at the position for much of its existence.
To ensure the transition from Justin Fields to Williams was a success, the Bears added offensive playmakers Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and D'Andre Swift to an offense that already included DJ Moore and Cole Kmet.
Where the Bears have drawn some criticism, not just this offseason, is the lack of attention paid to the offensive line. The struggles of the offensive line was one of the biggest reasons why the development of Fields never took off.
The Bears added Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton to their offensive line this offseason, but the team opted to move forward with Braxton Jones as the starting left tackle. While Jones has proven capable of being a starting left tackle in the NFL, his struggles with the bull rush have led to many wanting an upgrade at the position.
That would be the reason why the Bears were ranked at No. 20 in the latest NFL offensive line power ranking completed by NFL Spin Zone.
"Nowhere on the OL is there a real liability for the Chicago Bears, but it's not a great unit at all. Caleb Williams providing better QB play than Justin Fields should take some strain off of this starting five. This OL is still a bit of a work in progress, though."Lou Scataglia
While the Bears' offensive line is far from great, it needs to be stressed that part of the struggles can be tied to Fields' indecisiveness when throwing from the pocket. That does not make up for all the struggles of the unit but if Williams truly is improved as a quarterback from Fields, then the 2024 season should provide a clear data set on where the Bears' offensive line stands.