The Chicago Bears have a long list of areas they must upgrade this NFL offseason.
One of the areas in dire need of a boost is the offensive line, especially when it comes to guards. Although the Bears finished with the eighth-best pass protection grade on Pro Football Focus, the fact that they finished 15th in run blocking suggests that general manager Ryan Poles would be wise to add more reliable guards through the draft or free agency.
Fortunately, the perfect target to help in Poles' quest just became available on Wednesday.
Bears Must Target Rams OG Jonah Jackson Following Trade Request
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the Los Angeles Rams are granting veteran OG Jonah Jackson "permission to seek a trade" this offseason. The 28-year-old blocker joined the Rams on a three-year, $51 million contract last offseason and will carry a $14.6 million cap hit during the 2025 campaign.
Fowler added that Jackson is also due $8.5 million in guaranteed money on Wednesday, March 12.
The #Rams have given guard Jonah Williams permission to seek a trade, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 26, 2025
Former Pro Bowler in Detroit signed big free agent deal with L.A. last year but played four games due to injury and benching. Due $8.5M guarantee March 12. pic.twitter.com/tFem60xWJV
Jackson is the type of guard who'd bring much-needed experience to the Bears' offensive line, having started in each of his 61 career appearances. The former Ohio State blocker showed his ceiling with a 2021 Pro Bowl appearance as a member of the Detroit Lions.
Having said that, it remains to be seen if Jackson can return to that form following an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. A shoulder fracture played a big role in the Media, PA native being limited to just four regular-season appearances and two playoff games.
Although it was far from his best performance, Jackson looked decent amid his limited showings. He played to offense and run blocking grades of 67.6 and 68.8, respectively, which were actually above last year's output in 12 games with the Lions (61.0 and 60.3). With the right coaching, he could build off that performance in Chicago.
Joining the Bears would also reunite Jackson with head coach Ben Johnson, who was the former's offensive coordinator in Detroit during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Perhaps a Windy City reunion with Johnson would help the injury-plagued guard turn back the clock.
The Bears certainly have enough cap space for a deal — the fourth-most in the NFL ($74.6 million), according to Spotrac. Using a chunk of that on a Pro Bowl-quality guard is worth the risk if it helps the offense reach the next level.
Whether they pursue Jackson or not, it's encouraging to know that the Bears have options to help upgrade their OG situation. For now, any potential deals must wait until the trade window reopens on Wednesday, March 12.