The Chicago Bears had a clear priority in the 2025 offseason: Fix the offensive line. Caleb Williams took a franchise-record 68 sacks as a rookie, the third-most of all time. To have your franchise quarterback routinely running for his life week in and week out wasn't sustainable for a winning football team, and Ryan Poles and first-year head coach Ben Johnson knew it.
GM Ryan Poles did a great job of addressing that issue. The Bears' offensive line took a huge leap in 2025, giving up just 1.3 sacks per game, the fewest in the league, according to NFL Team Rankings. However, that unit is still far from a finished product, and they know it.
The revolving door at left tackle was a major headache, and it might not get better any time soon. Talking on Terron Armstead's podcast, Bears OL coach Dan Roushar admitted that the Bears' left tackle situation is a major concern.
The Bears May Not Find an Answer at Left Tackle This Offseason
“We have guys who have traits but not consistent enough to where we want it to be," the coach said (h/t Polymarket Football). "And I don’t know we have the assets to address it.”
Roushar acknowledged that the team needed to figure out how to get the same consistent, solid production they receive from the right tackle position. However, as things stand now, there are no clear avenues to add more talent to the fold, so whoever gets the nod will have to step up.
Rookie Ozzy Trapilo looked like a star in the making. He earned the starting spot and did an amazing job as Caleb Williams' blindside protector, giving up just 15 pressures, three QB hits, and 2.0 sacks. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury, and while it's not expected to be career-threatening, he's now expected to miss most -- if not all -- of next season.
That leaves the Bears with a mediocre tandem of Braxton Jones (who's a free agent) and Theo Benedet (who's an exclusive rights free agent). They could technically go after someone like Monroe Freeling in the first round of the 2026 draft, but given their need for help on defense, plus Trapilo's eventual return, that might not be the smartest move.
The Bears' offense looked sharp last season, and Williams is a master at rolling out of the pocket and extending plays. That said, all quarterbacks need protection, and the Bears will need to get creative to make sure their most valuable player stays out of harm's way.