How Much Will It Cost to Fix the Chicago Bears Offensive Line
https://youtu.be/7rNUzE1R744
The Chicago Bears’ offensive line has been a glaring issue, and fixing it won’t come cheap. In this video, we break down the potential costs of upgrading key positions through free agency, trades, and the draft. Can Ryan Poles afford the right talent to protect Caleb Williams and revamp the offense? With big names on the market and contract extensions looming, every decision counts. Watch as we analyze the price tag for rebuilding the Bears’ O-line!
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#ChicagoBears #BearsOffensiveLine #NFLFreeAgency #BearsRebuild #NFLDraft #BearsRumors #ChicagoFootball #CalebWilliams #BearsOline #OffensiveLine #NFLContracts #BearsNews #BearsNation #OffensiveLineHelp #FootballTalk #BearsFuture #NFLUpdates #RyanPoles #BearsOffense #NFLAnalysis
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**Fair Use Disclaimer**
This video contains copyrighted material used under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act. It is for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. No copyright infringement is intended.
https://youtu.be/7rNUzE1R744
The Chicago Bears’ offensive line has been a glaring issue, and fixing it won’t come cheap. In this video, we break down the potential costs of upgrading key positions through free agency, trades, and the draft. Can Ryan Poles afford the right talent to protect Caleb Williams and revamp the offense? With big names on the market and contract extensions looming, every decision counts. Watch as we analyze the price tag for rebuilding the Bears’ O-line!
----------
#ChicagoBears #BearsOffensiveLine #NFLFreeAgency #BearsRebuild #NFLDraft #BearsRumors #ChicagoFootball #CalebWilliams #BearsOline #OffensiveLine #NFLContracts #BearsNews #BearsNation #OffensiveLineHelp #FootballTalk #BearsFuture #NFLUpdates #RyanPoles #BearsOffense #NFLAnalysis
----------
**Fair Use Disclaimer**
This video contains copyrighted material used under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act. It is for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. No copyright infringement is intended.
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SportsTranscript
00:00The Chicago Bears are looking at a pivotal offseason.
00:03We've all seen the kind of impact a strong offensive line can have,
00:06especially when watching teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
00:10dominate their respective championships.
00:13It's no secret that Chicago has a glaring weakness up front,
00:16and fixing that needs to be at the top of their priority list
00:19if they want to get to the next level.
00:21So, how much will it cost to fix the Chicago Bears offensive line?
00:25Well, that's what we're here to dive into today.
00:28Let's start with the good news.
00:29The Bears already have two solid bookends on the offensive line.
00:33Tevin Jenkins at right guard has shown he can be a force,
00:37and Braxton Jones, despite some struggles, has shown flashes at left tackle.
00:42But here's the thing.
00:44The Bears need more than just a couple of good pieces.
00:47They need a whole new attitude up front,
00:50and that's going to require a good bit of cash.
00:54Now, before we go too deep into the money side of things,
00:58let's talk about what the Bears are working with in terms of resources.
01:02Chicago has a hefty $64 million in salary cap space as of January 2025.
01:10That's not just good, it's great.
01:13It's enough to make some real moves this offseason
01:16and shore up the trenches without gutting the rest of the roster.
01:20But the question remains, where do they allocate that money?
01:23To answer that, let's break it down into three major steps.
01:27First things first, let's talk about the center position.
01:30The Bears have struggled with consistency in the middle of the offensive line for years.
01:35From Cody Whitehair's decline to the struggles of Sam Mustafer,
01:39Lucas Patrick's injuries, and Coleman Shelton's mediocre play,
01:44the Bears haven't had stability here in a long time.
01:47This is where the Bears need to spend big.
01:50So, one name that keeps coming up is Drew Dallman from the Atlanta Falcons.
01:54The 26-year-old has 57 games of experience, and according to Pro Football Focus,
02:00Dallman's run-blocking grades are solid, though his pass-blocking leaves a little to be desired.
02:05Still, for a team looking to make a quick improvement, he could be a solid option.
02:10Dallman's projected four-year contract is set to be worth around $46 million,
02:15with $27 million in guaranteed money.
02:18That's a pretty standard deal for a center of his caliber.
02:21It might seem like a lot, but if the Bears want to stabilize the middle of their offensive line,
02:26they're going to need to make this kind of investment.
02:28If Dallman is the guy, he'll be a cornerstone for the next few years,
02:32and for a team like the Bears, that kind of continuity is key.
02:36Now, let's shift our focus to the guard spots.
02:39Here's the reality.
02:41The Bears need to upgrade at both guard positions.
02:44The depth just isn't there, and there's no clear starter at either spot.
02:48This is where Ryan Poles can really make his mark this offseason.
02:53One name at the top of the list is Trey Smith.
02:55The right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs,
02:58Smith is one of the best at his position,
03:00and if he hits free agency, the Bears need to be all over it.
03:04PFF has him pegged for a four-year deal worth $82 million,
03:09with $50 million in guarantees.
03:11That's a big investment, but it's one that could pay huge dividends.
03:15On the other hand, the Bears could look for a more affordable option,
03:18especially considering how many quality guards are set to hit the market.
03:22One guy who stands out is Will Fries from the Indianapolis Colts.
03:26Fries is only 26 years old, and while he's not a superstar, he's solid.
03:31He's projected to get a four-year deal worth around $57 million,
03:35with $30 million in guarantees.
03:38Yet he could provide an affordable yet steady presence in the middle.
03:42If the Bears don't land Smith,
03:44they'll need to look at a mix of veterans and younger players with potential.
03:48Kevin Zeitler, a seasoned veteran with the New York Giants,
03:51could be an option, but he's 34 and his best days are behind him.
03:55It's more of a one-year deal to provide leadership and stability.
03:59On the flip side, Aaron Banks from the San Francisco 49ers is another interesting name.
04:05But Banks is young at just 27 years old and has been solid for the 49ers.
04:10He's projected to get a three-year $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed.
04:17Let's talk about the left tackle position.
04:20Braxton Jones had a rough season in 2024.
04:24Sure, there were flashes of promise, but overall, it's clear the Bears could upgrade here.
04:29And considering that Jones suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions,
04:35the team needs to prepare for the possibility that he might not be ready for training camp.
04:42This is where the Bears could look for a bridge solution.
04:45Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens is an intriguing name.
04:49Stanley is still one of the better left tackles in the league,
04:51but injuries have slowed him down in recent years.
04:54He's projected to get a two-year $40 million deal with $27 million in guarantees.
05:00If the Bears decide they can't rely on Jones
05:03to be the long-term answer, bringing in a veteran like Stanley could be a smart move.
05:08Another option could be Cam Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
05:12Robinson is solid, but not spectacular.
05:14He's expected to get a three-year $56 million deal with $35 million guaranteed.
05:20If the Bears want to shore up the left tackle position
05:23and give Jones a little more time to develop, this could be a good option.
05:28But don't forget, the Bears could also look at post-hype sleepers.
05:32A guy like Jedrick Wills from the Cleveland Browns could be a steal.
05:36Wills is still young and has a lot of potential, but his future with the Browns is uncertain.
05:41If the Bears can get him on a one-year $3 million deal,
05:45it could be a great, low-risk, high-reward move.
05:50So, what are we looking at in terms of total cost?
05:53If the Bears target Dallman at center, Trey Smith at guard,
05:56and either Stanley or Robinson at left tackle, we're looking at a significant investment.
06:01Dallman's $46 million deal, Smith's $82 million deal, and Stanley's $40 million
06:08deal would put the Bears' total investment in these three positions alone at around $168 million.
06:18It's a big chunk of their available cap space, but it's worth it.
06:21If the Bears can shore up the offensive line with experienced, talented players,
06:26it will make a world of difference for their offense.
06:28No more worrying about a weak front that fails to protect their quarterback
06:32or open up holes in the running game.
06:34With a revamped offensive line, Justin Fields will have more time to make plays
06:38and the running backs will have more opportunities to explode.
06:43But here's the thing, the Bears aren't just going to stop with free agency.
06:46They're also going to look to the draft to find long-term solutions.
06:50With the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft,
06:54they could look at a tackle or guard who can step in right away and contribute.
06:58Even if they sign veterans, adding young, high-upside players through the draft
07:03is key to building a sustainable offensive line.
07:07The Bears are sitting on a significant amount of cap space this offseason,
07:11and if they want to make a serious run in 2025, they need to fix that offensive line.
07:17Whether it's bringing in a new center like Drew Dallman,
07:19a top-tier guard like Trey Smith, or a veteran left tackle like Ronnie Stanley,
07:24it's clear that Chicago has the opportunity to make a big splash in free agency.
07:30At the end of the day, the cost to fix the offensive line could be upwards of $150 million.
07:36But if the Bears want to protect their future franchise quarterback
07:40and create a balanced offense, it's money well spent.