The Chicago Bears' offensive line could undergo serious changes as the NFL offseason heats up. Quarterback Caleb Williams needs the best protection possible to succeed in Year 3, which is why Bears general manager Ryan Poles can only afford to retain blockers he can trust.
Former starting tackle Braxton Jones is slated to hit free agency and seems an unlikely re-signing despite past production. Jones has consistently dealt with injuries since the start of 2023, all while struggling to meet expectations as time has passed.
Even if a fresh start is what Jones needs at this stage of his career, there's a decent chance that the Bears' pending free agent will continue to disappoint wherever he ends up.
Bears' Braxton Jones Will Likely Disappoint His Next Team
Jones' health will be the top concern for any team pursuing him, especially when recent battles with the injury bug have caused his performance to regress.
Despite only playing 210 offensive snaps in 2025, the tackle gave up 15 pressures and a pair of sacks, per Pro Football Focus. When the season mattered most, Jones was put on the bench, and this should send a message to the rest of the league.
Still, teams desperate for answers will look at the early seasons of Jones' career and talk themselves into a signing that will unquestionably prove to be a bust.
According to Spotrac, Jones is projected to make $4.7 million in free agency. Even if that isn't the largest contract that will be handed out next month, it's still a decent chunk of change, especially if Jones — who's missed an average of 7.3 games in the last three seasons — can't stay on the gridiron.
While there is a slight chance Jones can turn back the clock andbecome a productive starter once again, this seems extremely unlikely. Players typically don't get healthier as they age, and for Jones, he hasn't had a healthy campaign since he was a rookie. That's a lot of time to miss before his 27th birthday, leaving time to tell if he'll ever play a full season again.
Given his recent medical and on-field history, the Bears would be foolish to consider re-signing Jones next month. They already re-signed Theo Benedet to a one-year contract earlier this month, while Ozzy Trapilo will likely be healthy at some point in the 2026 campaign. Throw in a veteran or two on cheap one-year contracts, and it's clear that Chicago doesn't need Jones as much as it once did.
With this in mind, it's easy to imagine turning the page on Jones and letting him be another team's risk. The Bears' O-line isn't a good fit for him anymore, and closing this chapter will help them avoid headaches coming from a player whose career is trending in the wrong direction.