With Wednesday marking the official start of the new league year, the Chicago Bears were at Halas Hall on Wednesday to formally discuss the moves the team has made over the last week.
The Bears’ offseason activity began in earnest last week when Ryan Poles traded for offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. With Thuney and Jackson both having spent most of their NFL careers as a left guard with their respective teams, there was some question as to how first-year head coach Ben Johnson would slot the revamped starting offensive line.
While Jackson had center experience as recently as last season with the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears’ signing Drew Dalman on Monday put an end to that silly thought exercise. In speaking with reporters at Halas Hall on Wednesday, Johnson all but confirmed the current projection of the Bears’ starting offensive line.
Ben Johnson confirms the positions for the new-look Bears’ offensive line
Johnson told reporters that Thuney will serve as the team’s starting left guard, with Jackson serving as the starting right guard. Johnson’s revelation shouldn’t be much of a surprise, considering Thuney has earned a reputation as the best left guard in the NFL. With Dalman as the team’s center, the Bears’ offensive line rounds out with Darnell Wright as the right tackle and Braxton Jones as the left tackle.
All eyes are on Jones at left tackle. Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and while he can get by as a starting left tackle at the NFL level, his play shouldn’t prevent the Bears from addressing position in the 2025 NFL Draft. For example, if LSU’s Will Campbell falls to the Bears at No. 10, that should be a no-brainer. Jones did suffer a season-ending ankle injury but is expected to be ready in time for training camp.
Even after the moves to the starting offensive line, the Bears could still stand to add depth during the later stages of free agency, Matt Pryor, who was forced into a starting role on the Bears’ offensive line, remains available and would be an ideal depth piece.