There's no denying the Chicago Bears' roster got much better during the offseason, thanks to the work done by general manager Ryan Poles and new head coach Ben Johnson. One position group stands out from the rest of the roster as the best on the team.
ESPN NFL analyst Mike Clay, along with Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder, named the Bears' roster as the 15th best in the NFL. Clay pointed out that the offensive line of Chicago was the team's biggest strength, with three new additions to the starting lineup.
"Offensive line. I could've gone a few directions here (WR? TE? DB?), but Chicago's O-line has a shot to be one of the league's best. That might seem silly considering the Bears allowed a league-high 68 sacks last season, but they ranked 15th in pass block win rate (60.4%) and eighth in run block win rate (72.5%) and are now substantially better on paper. All three interior positions were upgraded (left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson) next to standout tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright."
How did the Bears' offensive line go from zero to hero in one year?
Last year was a miserable year for the Bears' offensive line, as they struggled in most aspects of their game. The group allowed a league-high 68 sacks, and they only rushed for 102 yards per game, which was near the bottom of the NFL.
One of the focuses of the offseason was to make sure their franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, had all the protection he needed. Poles did that by adding guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson via trade and center Drew Dalman through free agency.
The good news is the Bears still have their starting tackles in place with Jones and Wright. Jones is still recovering from his late-season injury, so his status for the upcoming season is unknown. Wright has been solid at right tackle and should continue to develop.
Even the future of the offensive line was built around second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo, who is potentially ready to fill in at left tackle if Jones isn't ready. Even if Jones is ready, Trapilo will have a legitimate shot at starting this season on the line.
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2025 is shaping up to be a much better year for the Bears thanks to the work done on the line. A playoff push could be determined by how well the offensive line holds up.