The Bears have the 4th most cap space in all the NFL with $79 million available to spend this offseason, meaning they should be aggressive in free agency.

Robert Mays, host of the The Athletic Football Show, sat down with the Bears on the Marquee Podcast crew from the NFL Scouting Combine and gave his opinion on how the Bears need to make the right moves to help Caleb Williams and the offense take a positive step in the quarterback’s sophomore campaign.

“You need to make sure that that offensive line is solidified,” Mays said.

It’s a critical piece of team success to have not just a couple of stand-out players on your offensive line, but a front five that is solid all around. In addition to those starters, Mays made an important point of having the necessary depth other winning teams boast on their offensive lines.

“I think making sure that you’re using whatever free agency money you have and maybe a draft pick or two to come into the season being like, ‘That’s solved. We have seven guys here where if we lose somebody, we have depth,” Mays said.

Despite the glaring flaws of last year’s offensive line, it’s important to remember the defensive struggles the Bears faced, particularly in the pass rush.

The Bears finished with 40 sacks on the season, middle of the pack in the NFL. However, it was the lack of production from star edge rusher Montez Sweat that was most jarring. Sweat finished with fewer sacks in the 2024 season (5.5 sacks) than he did in his 9-game stint with the Bears in 2023 (when he finished with 6.0).

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them rebuild the offensive line through free agency … and then go to the draft on the defensive line, where upside becomes more important,” Mays stated.

It’s a draft filled with defensive talent, and Mays’ suggested approach for the Bears can make sense for the front office.

One thing is certain, the Bears must improve both sides of the trenches to find more success for Williams and the offense and to bring back a dominant defense.

Catch the full episode of the Bears on the Marquee Podcast here.