The Chicago Bears need as much help as they can get along their offensive line right now. Star rookie Ozzy Trapilo will miss most -- if not all -- of next season, and while Theo Benedet is an exclusive rights free agent, Braxton Jones can leave in free agency.
That's why the front office can't leave any stone unturned in their pursuit of help. At this point, there would be no such thing as a bad idea, and GM Ryan Poles can't afford to overlook any option that might pop up in free agency.
With that in mind, they might be tempted to give OT Cornelius Lucas another look. The Cleveland Browns just released the offensive lineman after one season with the team, and Lucas already has some history with the Bears' organization, having started in eight of the 16 appearances he made during the 2019 campaign in the Windy City.
The Bears Might Have to Consider Signing Cornelius Lucas
Lucas has been an occasional starter for most of his 12 years in the league. He made ten total appearances for the injury-depleted Browns' offensive line last season, starting five games and playing 221 snaps at right tackle, 65 snaps at left tackle, and 32 snaps on special teams. That type of positional versatility only makes Lucas an intriguing option as a depth piece up front.
Of course, he's not a star by any means, and trusting him with a primary role might come back to haunt this team. While he was only called for four penalties and gave up only three sacks, his pass-blocking grade (36.9) was the third-worst among 89 eligible tackles during the 2025 campaign, according to Pro Football Focus' grading system. He was much better as a run-blocker (54.5, 75th), but his overall grade (42.7) was also the third-lowest league-wide.
Then again, beggars can't be choosers. Over The Cap signals his average annual value at just $1.8 million per season, and he should be right around that mark again in 2026. The Bears are currently $7.46 million over the salary cap, so it's not like they won't have enough money to spend on Lucas, should things get to that point, even after roster cuts.
The fact is that Chicago is facing a decision the front office did not anticipate having to make, given Dalman's age and performance on the field. Now, this becomes a priority along with the other areas of the roster that need tweaking in the coming weeks and months.
This team will have to explore all their options and make sure to bring in some depth behind Benedet, assuming they bring him back. And even if Trapilo might still be the future at left tackle, Lucas might give them a rotational depth piece as an insurance policy for whoever else they get on the team.