Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles did a great job with most of his offseason additions. He rebuilt the offensive line to keep Caleb Williams out of harm's way and establish the run, and those moves have paid off big time this season.
That's why, with Braxton Jones looking at free agency after losing his starting job, the only way he might be back in the Windy City next season will be by taking a bit of a discount. He's making just $3.6 million this season, and while that isn't a huge amount, it's a number that will be too much for his services in 2026.
Braxton Jones Could Be Too Pricy to Return to Bears in 2026
As of Week 14, it's safe to say Jones' future in Chicago is up in the air. In fact, it may have been since the offseason.
The Bears drafted Ozzy Trapilo to compete with Jones in training camp. Jones ultimately beat the rookie, but he lost his starting job after several weeks. Now, with Trapilo also beating Theo Benedet for the starting left tackle job, Jones will have to settle for whatever the Bears are willing to give him -- if anything -- to stay with the team.
Jones gave up a whopping 14.0 sacks in his first three years with the team. He's currently on Injured Reserve with a knee injury, but with the team doing just fine in his absence, they might not activate him after four games unless they're desperate for some depth and an insurance policy at the position. He's also regressed vastly from last year, as he's given up 15 pressures on 136 passing snaps (11%) compared to 26 on 471 last year (5.5%), according to Pro Football Focus.
Head coach Ben Johnson recently gushed about Trapilo and the great job he's done since taking over as the starter, so it doesn't sound like Benedet will reclaim his spot any time soon -- if ever. That paints a grimmer picture for Jones.
The sample size is limited, but Trapilo has only given up one pressure, six hurries, and he has yet to give up a sack. Benedet has also done slightly better than him, giving up 2.0 sacks but no quarterback hits. Jones, on the other hand, has given up 2.0 sacks, two QB hits, and 11 pressures in just 136 pass-blocking snaps. Even so, if he's willing to make some financial compromises and maybe change sides on the offensive line, the team could still bring him back.
The Bears could use someone to back up Darnell Wright at right tackle, now that Trapilo has established himself as Caleb Williams' primary blindside protector. That's where a veteran like Jones might come in handy if he's even willing to make that adjustment and move to the other side of the offensive line.
The Bears are sitting on the best record in the NFC and looking to not only win the NFC North but also make a deep postseason run. Clearly, having Braxton Jones on the field isn't going to do much to help their case. If the Bears keep thriving without him playing, it'll be clear that he'll need to take a discounted contract to stay in the Windy City.
That is, if Chicago is even interested in extending this partnership.