Chicago Bears Free Agency Position Preview: Offensive Line

There might be no greater position of need for the Chicago Bears, this offseason, than offensive line.

One could argue defensive line or wide receiver, but you likely couldn’t make a good enough case to top the need of protecting Justin Fields.

The Bears’ offensive line was atrocious a year ago, and after free agency opens up March 16, general manager Ryan Poles could end up doing some serious damage to fix it.

Before free agency officially opens, though, let’s take a more in-depth look at the state of the offensive line in Chicago.

The offensive line position is going to look dramatically different for the Chicago Bears after 2023 free agency dies down

Bears offensive linemen under contract for 2023:

G/C Cody Whitehair

C Lucas Patrick

G Teven Jenkins

G Alex Leatherwood

OT Larry Borom

OT Braxton Jones

OT Ja’Tyre Carter

C Doug Kramer

OT Kellen Diesch

First of all, the Bears could save another $6 million by cutting Cody Whitehair. Now, he’s arguably their best lineman and a longtime Bear. But, anything is on the table right now for Poles, who could look to form “his” roster with “his” guys going forward.

The only player likely guaranteed a starting spot of the above names, though, is Braxton Jones. And he’s a Poles guy. As for the rest of them? You never know what the Bears will choose to do.

Bears free agent offensive linemen for 2023:

OT Riley Reiff

OT Dakota Dozier

G Michael Schofield

C Sam Mustipher

G Dieter Eiselen

We can cut to the chase right here, folks. There is no world where any of the above names are re-signed with the intention of throwing them into the starting lineup. If, for some reason, the Bears want to re-sign Reiff for depth, then that’s probably fine. But, he’ll have to accept significantly less money than he has in the past.

Other than Reiff, good riddance to the rest of them, especially Sam Mustipher.

Best free agent offensive linemen for 2023:

OT Orlando Brown Jr.

OT Mike McGlinchey

G Ben Powers

C Connor McGovern

G Isaac Seumalo

OT Kaleb McGary

G Dalton Risner

G Nate Davis

OT Jawaan Taylor

Let’s just be honest with ourselves for a moment. Any one of the above names would be a welcomed signing in Chicago. Pick a position, pick a player, and call it a day. Fans would be happy with one or two of the above players in a Bears uniform, no doubt.

But, fans would be absolutely ecstatic if the Bears were to somehow sign a guy like Orlando Brown Jr. or Isaac Seumalo. Both of those guys are younger, ascending players in the thick of their prime at either position.

One note about Brown, for those who might not know: Brown was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs while Ryan Poles was still there. So, the two definitely have a connection. That might come into play when the Bears go after him next month.

Regardless of whom the Bears sign in free agency, though, one thing remains pretty evident: Poles is going to attack the offensive line. He has no other choice, and it’s who he is, after all.