Experts Ranked Chicago Bears O-Line Way Higher Than Expected
The Chicago Bears offense looks like it is finally ready to enter the realm of relevance for the first time in years. GM Ryan Poles has pieced together an exciting core of talent. It starts with #1 overall pick Caleb Williams at quarterback. Then you have the trio of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze at wide receiver. Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Marcedes Lewis form a diverse tight end group. D’Andre Swift is a 1,000-yard rusher. There is lots to like. However, everybody knows the reality. Most of it won’t work if the Bears offensive line can’t pull its weight.
The group hasn’t been able to find cohesion for a long time. This is partly due to talent deficiencies but even more so because of injuries. Poles has worked hard to build the group through a mix of young draft picks and affordable veterans. Going purely by the stats, it isn’t easy to get excited after the unit allowed 50 sacks last season. Still, not everybody is buying into that lazy narrative. Pro Football Focus is one. In their offensive line rankings for 2024, they have a high opinion of what the Bears have built.
“11. CHICAGO BEARS
The Bears’ offensive line, as it got healthy, was one of the top units in the NFL toward the second half of the 2023 season. Center Ryan Bates is expected to complete the unit and bring it to the next level.
In Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, Chicago has a promising young offensive tackle duo. And Teven Jenkins has performed extremely well since moving to guard, earning 70.0-plus PFF overall grades in 2022 and 2023.”
The Chicago Bears offensive line is driven by health.
What PFF says is true. There were significant signs of improvement last season. The offensive line had five games where they gave up 10 or fewer pressures on the quarterback. Most of those came after left tackle Braxton Jones returned from his neck injury. This is another reminder of how vital health is for this group. Injuries dominated the headlines for the offensive line throughout last year. Jones, Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis, and both centers missed considerable time with various ailments. Only Darnell Wright was on the field for most of his snaps.
It won’t be possible to know the full potential of this offense until the line starts playing full games together. This season will be an important one for the Chicago Bears. If any of those guys can’t stay on the field again, don’t be shocked if GM Ryan Poles makes sweeping changes to the unit in 2025. He understands the importance of availability in the NFL. Nowhere is that clearer than the offensive front five. Hopefully, they will live up to those high expectations.