Over the last few weeks, many NFL analysts and insiders believed the Chicago Bears were a logical fit for Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith in free agency. Smith was considered one of the top free agents in this year’s class after turning in a Pro Bowl season in 2024.
For a team like the Bears, who need offensive line help this offseason, specifically at right guard, Smith was the perfect fit. However, the Chiefs guaranteed Smith never reached free agency. Kansas City gave Smith the franchise tag for the 2025 season.
Therefore, teams like the Bears, we’ll need to pivot elsewhere for o-line help in free agency. And luckily for Chicago fans, the team has their sights set on a couple of veterans, who could help their o-line woes.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he believes Chicago will sign at least one interior offensive lineman and mentions Aaron Banks and Will Fries as possibilities.
"The sense is Chicago will sign at least one interior offensive linemen. Drew Dalman, 49ers guard Aaron Banks and Colts guard Will Fries are among players on the radar. Like Dalman, Banks and Fries are in line for sizable contracts. Guards dominated free agency last year and will do well once again. The Giants, Cardinals and Seahawks are lurking in this market, too."
Banks has spent the last four years with the San Francisco 49ers after being taken in the second round by San Francisco in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old lineman played at left guard this past season, which could be a need for the Bears with Teven Jenkins also being a free agent.
According to PFF, Banks wasn’t the best at pass protection (60.5 grade – ranked 77th among 135 guards) despite only allowing one sack in 775 offensive snaps. However, the former second round pick was better at run blocking with a 68.9 grade (ranked 37th).
Spotrac projects Banks’ calculated market value as a three-year, $29.1 million deal ($9.7 million average annual salary). Meanwhile, Fries could get a significant pay raise this offseason. The former seventh-round pick has turned himself into one of the better linemen in the NFL.
The 26-year-old offensive lineman has spent four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, playing a few games at tackle and the rest at guard. Fries only played five games this season after suffering a broken tibia in Week 5.
Fries’ injury could temper his market in free agency, but with so many teams looking for quality offensive linemen, he will have offers. Before Fries suffered the season-ending leg injury, he was graded as PFF’s fourth-best guard. He had a 74.9 pass blocking (ranked 18th out of 135 guards) and an 84.9 run blocking grade (ranked fifth).
The Bears will have competition in the offensive line market this offseason, but after seeing Caleb Williams getting sacked 68 times, they must be aggressive in adding talent to the unit.