The Chicago Bears are in a position to have a potential franchise-altering offseason, where general manager Ryan Poles has no shortage of resources.
Not only do the Bears have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but they’re expected to have $98.6 million in salary cap space, which is the most in the NFL (by a wide margin).
Poles has plenty of work to do with arguably the league’s worst roster from 2022. That starts in the trenches with the defensive line and offensive line, which were the biggest weaknesses with their respective units.
According to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, the Bears are expected to be active in free agency, particularly when it comes to targeting offensive linemen.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for Poles to spend money on the offensive line. It’s an area of need, a position he emphasizes, and usually one where a team can be more comfortable getting immediate help from veterans as opposed to rookies.
One league source confirmed the obvious — there is already talk that the Bears will be active in free agency on the offensive line.
It’s not a surprise considering Bears quarterback Justin Fields was the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL last season (55 sacks), and shoring up the offensive line should be a big focal point for Poles this offseason.
At this point, it feels like Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones, one of the team’s best rookies, figure into the starting lineup for 2023. But the future is murky for the rest of the unit, including veterans Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick, who could be salary cap casualties. Sam Mustipher, who’s a restricted free agent, could be back next season — albeit in a reserve role.
When looking at the free agent market, there are some intriguing names that should be available. Whether it’s at tackle (Orlando Brown Jr., Mike McGlinchey, Kaleb McGary, Jawaan Taylor), center (Jason Kelce, Ethan Pocic, Garrett Bradbury) or guard (Ben Powers).
