The Chicago Bears have a lengthy shopping list this week ahead of the start of free agency, but they also have the chance to watch their rivals play catch-up in the NFC North. One team that is desperate to catch Chicago is the Green Bay Packers, who fumbled away the division title and a 21-3 halftime lead over the Bears in the Wild Card round to watch their season come to an end.
One of the downfalls for the Packers has been the play of their offensive line. While their issues have been a series of mistakes, they appear to have made another one as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Green Bay has agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract extension with pending free agent Sean Rhyan.
Sinking $11 million per season into a player who has played nine games at the center position feels like a risk, and the Bears may have watched the Packers make another mistake as they look to catch them in the standings next season.
Bears Can Only Laugh as Packers Continue Status Quo Along the Offensive Line
The Packers’ downfall in the trenches began last season when they signed Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract. Banks’s arrival created a ripple effect across the offensive line, moving Elgton Jenkins to center and eventually allowing Rhyan to cash in when Jenkins struggled and suffered a season-ending injury last November. But it appears the Packers are compounding those mistakes this offseason.
Green Bay is expected to release Jenkins, allowing Rhyan to become their starting center, and his $11 million average annual value now ranks fifth among centers, according to Over The Cap. This is also done in the backdrop where the Packers are going with a pair of questionable draft picks, Jordan Morgan at left tackle and Anthony Belton at right guard.
While Green Bay could improve with Banks taking a step forward and a return to health for right tackle Zach Tom, it’s an arrogant approach compared to what the Bears did one season ago.
The Bears had major holes in their offensive line. Caleb Williams got sacked an NFL-high 68 times during the 2024 season. Instead of hoping for self-improvement, the Bears were aggressive in rebuilding the trenches, trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing Drew Dalman. The payoff was massive as the Bears jumped from 24th in 2024 to 3rd last season in Pro Football Focus’s final offensive line rankings. Although Dalman shockingly retired, they were proactive in replacing him, acquiring Garrett Bradbury in a trade with the New England Patriots on Friday.
Of course, this falls in line with what the Packers have done all offseason. While the Bears have addressed their flaws, Green Bay appears ready to smack its head against the wall to accept them, extending head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst while keeping players that were part of the problem.Â
It’s the kind of stagnant nature that allowed the Bears to leap the Packers in the NFC North standings and could let them stay there when the 2026 season begins.