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How Ben Johnson, Ryan Poles can overhaul Bears offensive line in an offseason

4 weeks agoScott Bair

INDIANAPOLIS – The Bears simply must revamp their offensive front. We could witness a complete overhaul of their interior line, with both guards and the center set to hit free agency.

That was the weakest part of the Bears offense anyway, so adding new starters at each of those spots constitutes a good idea.

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New head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles are committed to getting better there, meeting with most all the top draft talent here at the NFL Scouting Combine. That includes LSU’s Will Campbell, Alabama’s Tyler Booker and Missouri’s Armand Membou, among several others.

While we generally don’t put much stock in formal meetings at a place where each team meets with so many, it’s a small point as evidence of a larger truth – the Bears are going after offensive linemen.

Instituting change at so many spots is a gamble, but it’s required after the difficulties faced during the 2024 season. That’s why it’s clear the Bears are going all in on the offensive line.

Johnson saw firsthand in Detroit how offensive line play creates value for the larger cause, with the Lions reaping massive benefits from an intimidating front.

He also thinks the Bears can flip the script up front in one offseason. That’s a tough task in general, but Poles and Johnson have the resources to do exactly that.

“There’s no question that you can change the dynamic of a room just like that,” Johnson said in a press conference. “That particular room, it does take a little bit of time for five guys to come together, especially if you have to deal with the attrition and the injuries for five guys to be working on the same page. When you watch the tape and you come away with, I think I made this statement in my opening press conference that that’s an area we have to get better.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean we need five new starters, because all it takes is one individual to blow up a play. We’re just identifying where we can get a little bit better and we’re going to continue to raise that floor and, and we’ll find the right mix of five to eight, nine, 10 guys.”

The Bears don’t have many members of a nine or 10-man position group. Darnell Wright is a lock at right tackle. If Braxton Jones recovers well from ankle surgery, he should be ready for left tackle duty this spring, though Poles said there will be competition at that spot.

They have some backups earmarked for the roster in Ryan Bates and Kiran Amegadjie, but not much beyond that. Continuity is king up front, but the Bears might have to deal with some flux when assembling the 2025 line. That might include some veterans on one-year deals.

It’ll also include some draft selections, possibly two in Chicago’s three picks over the top 41.

There are plenty of options to choose from. Draft analysts love the idea of Texas’ Kelvin Banks going to the Bears at No. 10. There are several centers available in the draft’s second day. Guards can be attained early or late, and the Bears are clearly looking for help inside in the starting lineup and down the depth chart.

Expect the Bears to address the position in free agency as well.

“I think we will have more clarity when we get out of the combine and get to know some of these players even more,” Poles said. “Our coaches have dug into free agency a lot since they have gotten on board. We have a lot more work to do on the draft once we get back. I have to see how we get aligned on that.”

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