WCG’s lead draft analyst shares the top offensive line targets the Bears could pursue in free agency.
It’s hardly a bold take to say the offensive line is the Bears’ biggest need heading into the 2025 offseason.
Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times in 2024, making him the third-most sacked quarterback in a single season in NFL history. With three starting offensive line positions likely up for grabs in 2025, the Bears have the perfect combination of openings in the starting lineup and general needs up front.
Darnell Wright figures to be locked in as Chicago’s starting right tackle, and Braxton Jones, as much as opinions about him in the fanbase may vary, realistically figures to start at left tackle again in 2025. Both primary starting guards from last season — Teven Jenkins and Matt Pryor — are slated to hit free agency, though, as is center Coleman Shelton.
The Bears have the fifth-most cap space in the league heading into the offseason, and they have four picks in the top 75 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They seem likely to use some of the money along their offensive line, and should they choose to do so, these free agents could be targets.
Chiefs RG Trey Smith
A Pro Bowl guard at 25 years old, Smith is the crown jewel of offensive linemen in free agency if the Chiefs don’t extend him. He graded above 72.0 in PFF grades each of his four seasons in the NFL thus far, and he didn’t allow a single sack in 2024. Ryan Poles was in Kansas City’s front office when they drafted Smith, so the ties are there. With the Chiefs spending a significant amount of money on their interior offensive line already, there’s a chance he hits the open market.
Falcons C Drew Dalman
Dalman has been a reliable starter for the Falcons each of the last three seasons, grading as a top-five center by PFF each of the last two seasons. He missed significant time in the middle of the 2024 season due to an ankle injury, but he’s a high-level starter at 26 years old who figures to make a significant amount of money this free agency.
Lions RG Kevin Zeitler
If the Bears want a short-term answer at guard, Zeitler is a perfect fit. He worked with Ben Johnson in Detroit, he played at an extremely high level in 2024, and he’s been a reliable starter since coming into the league back in 2012. There’s always risk signing older players to more expensive deals, so Zeitler, who turns 35 in March, feels like a player a team signs on a one-year deal instead of a long-term contract. That said, he’s aged like fine wine and remains one of the top guards in the NFL.
Colts RG Will Fries
A season-ending leg injury cut Fries’ 2024 season short, providing some murkiness in regards to his contract status in upcoming free agency. He’ll be in the prime of his career turning 27 in April, though, and he earned a phenomenal 86.9 PFF grade this year that would have made him the second-best guard in the league had he kept that pace up in a healthy season.
Eagles RG Mekhi Becton
Injuries and weight issues plagued Becton’s time with the Jets after the team used a first-round pick on him in 2020. The Eagles signed him on a one-year deal and kicked him inside to guard, and that has helped propel his career back on track. He’ll be 26 in April, meaning there’s likely still a lot of good football ahead of him.
Steelers RG James Daniels
Ryan Poles opted to not extend Daniels after his rookie contract expired with the Bears, but given the team’s struggles along the offensive line, Chicago’s former second-round pick could be back on the table if the two sides come together. He had an unbelievable 92.9 PFF grade in four games before tearing his Achilles, and for how experienced he is as an NFL starting lineman, he’s only 27 years old.
Cowboys RG Zack Martin
Martin is a guaranteed future Hall of Famer, and while he’s not the perennial All-Pro he was earlier in his career, he’s still an impact starter who can serve as a valuable mentor for young players along an offensive line. At 34 years old, he’s likely more of a one-year rental but could be worth considering if he hits the open market.
Colts C Ryan Kelly
A four-time Pro Bowler at center, Kelly has been an anchor of the Colts’ offense since he entered the league in 2016. He turns 32 in May, and he’s spent his entire career in Indianapolis. That said, he could be a great stopgap starting option at center should he hit free agency.