The Chicago Bears were one of the most active teams in the early stages of the free-agency tampering period. They made big moves to address their defensive flaws, and one under-the-radar move to keep Caleb Williams out of trouble.
As reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bears brought back veteran LT Braxton Jones. After making 44 starts in four years, Jones will get a one-year, $5 million deal that can increase to $10 million, depending on incentives.
Then again, that doesn't mean that the veteran blocker is safe in head coach Ben Johnson's eyes.
Braxton Jones' Future with the Bears Isn't Secure Yet
The Bears will likely spend even more money on defense, so getting a cost-controlled option who was already familiar with the offense, the terminology, and the blocking schemes made the most sense for this team. They desperately needed to keep Jones there, but that doesn't mean he'll be around for the long run.
Chicago is most likely still committed to Ozzy Trapilo.
Trapilo sustained a major knee injury late in the season and will miss most — if not all — of next season, but he's still under contract for two more years, is younger, and showed enough promise as a rookie to be the starter.
Jones even lost his starting spot at some point in the season, so the Bears must be aware of the fact that he's mostly a stopgap at this point. He's not going to be a long-term solution, especially when they can let him walk in free agency after this season. He likely won't struggle to find a job after that, as he could be a cost-effective option for a contender with money tied up elsewhere.
As reported by Pro Football Focus, Jones played only 210 snaps last season (all at left tackle). He gave up 15 total pressures, two QB hits, and two sacks on 136 pass-block snaps. He was also flagged for a couple of penalties. He lost his starting spot after posting a season-low 28.1 run-block grade against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4.
Jones is a solid rotation player who can be a place-holder and insurance policy, but not someone to build an offensive line around. General manager Ryan Poles must retool the offensive line after watching his quarterback lead the league in sacks taken as a rookie, so he won't hesitate to pull the plug and find an upgrade as soon as it becomes available.
Jones is the best they can do now, but it'll take a massive effort for him to extend his stay in the Windy City.