The Chicago Bears have plenty of cap space this offseason to hopefully upgrade their offensive and defensive lines.
Overthecap.com projects the Bears should have $62 million in cap space. The team should use a good portion of that along with the draft capital they have to address the problems along the trenches.
Until they address their problems along the offensive and defensive lines, this team is not going to be anywhere close to making a Super Bowl with quarterback Caleb Williams on his rookie contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are playing for the Vince Lombardi trophy in part because they have put together good lines on both sides of the ball.
Luckily for Chicago, both teams have pending free agents that the Bears should pursue that could help them address their line needs.
1. Trey Smith
The Bears must upgrade the interior of their offensive line especially with Teven Jenkins likely being allowed to leave in free agency because of injury concerns.
Nate Davis was a huge free agent miss made by general manager Ryan Poles, but that should not preclude Poles from going back into free agency to address the guard position.
If the best guard does make it to the market, the Bears should give Smith his projected four-year deal at nearly $20 million a season to get him in the fold.
Pro Football Focus ranks Smith as the best interior offensive lineman available. Plus, he will be 26 next season, so he still has plenty of prime years left in his career.
Also, the Bears can afford a lineman capable of keeping defenders from getting in Williams' face since the USC product would still be on his rookie deal through the hypothetical four seasons Smith would be signed to.
The issue is Smith likely will get the franchise tag if only because the Chiefs can try to work a trade to get some draft picks back.
2. Mekhi Becton
The Bears need at least three, possibly four new starting offensive linemen. The team definitely has to find new starters at guard.
The Bears technically still have Ryan Bates on the roster, but with how much time he missed with injuries, it is best to count on him only for depth purposes. Braxton Jones might be worth seeing if he can be kicked inside too.
Becton would be a nice addition in case Smith does not make it to unrestricted free agency or signs somewhere else. Although, it would be great to get both.
Becton would immediately provide some nastiness to the offensive line.
His career was trending toward being a bust after he failed with the New York Jets. He went to Philadelphia, got kicked inside to guard, and has been throwing defensive tackles around ever since.
The only problem is Poles likes his offensive lineman to be a bit leaner. Becton is weighing in at 364 pounds these days.
He is ranked as the 41st best available free agent according to PFF. Spotrac projects he will get a four-year, $40 million deal.
3. Josh Sweat
The Bears must add pass rushers.
Montez Sweat battled injuries and double-teams that affected his ability to effectively wreck a game.
New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants to attack the quarterback. His tendency to call press-man coverage also dictates the importance of the pass rush getting home.
Sweat just switched agents, so it sounds like he is intent on testing the market. He had eight sacks this season and a career-high 11 in 2022. The one problem is he might not be an ideal fit in Allen's 4-3 front since Sweat has been playing in former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4 front.
4. Milton Williams
He would likely kick inside to three-technique defensive tackle in the Bears' 4-3 base defense. If Williams makes it to free agency, the Bears should jump at the chance to sign him.
He will be 26 next season and young, emerging free agents are players Poles loves to target.
Williams has missed just one game over his four seasons. He has a career-best five sacks this season. At his listed 290 pounds, he might be a good fit to try at the three-tech and get after the quarterback.
PFF ranks him as the 32nd overall potential free agent.
5. Tershawn Wharton
He has been playing in Chris Jones' shadow. Wharton is 26 and coming off a 6.5-sack season.
He is another player the Bears could sign to see if he can finally solve the team's problem at the three-technique.
Wharton can struggle against the run, but he is very good at getting up the field and getting in the quarterback's face.
Wharton is also relatively durable having only one injury-plagued season over his five-year career. PFF ranks him as the 82nd best available pending free agent.