The Chicago Bears are showing they’re serious about upgrading their offensive line, trading for a two-time All-Pro guard.
The Chicago Bears are showing they’re serious about improving their offensive line this offseason. Just one day after agreeing to trade terms to acquire Rams guard Jonah Jackson , they’ve apparently agreed to another offensive line trade. Per Ian Rapoport, the Bears are expected to trade for veteran Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney. The trade will cost the Bears a 2026 fourth-round pick , according to reports. Neither trade can be official until the start of the new league year on March 12.
Thuney, 32 years old, is entering the final year of a five-year, $80 million deal signed with the Chiefs. He’ll carry a $15.5 million salary to Chicago, along with a $500,000 workout bonus. Kansas City—working to get back under the salary cap by Wednesday—will clear up $16 million in cap space but still eat nearly $11 million in dead cap with the move.
Thuney has been named first-team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons, and he’s been a Pro Bowler for three straight years. In 2024, he was PFF’s seventh-highest graded guard (80.0), including the third-highest pass blocking grade (80.0).
Looking at the Bears’ offensive line now, it’s already gone through a significant upgrade. Here are the projected starters before free agency even begins:
LT: Braxton Jones
LG: Joe Thuney
C: TBD
RG: Jonah Jackson
RT: Darnell Wright
Last year, the Bears ranked dead last in sacks allowed (68) and 29th in yards per carry (4.0) in the run game. It’s clear Ben Johnson wants those numbers to look a lot better in 2025.