The Chicago Bears knew if they played the offseason in a normal fashion, there was little chance they’d be able to address all of their needs. Free agency and the draft had plenty of talent available, but not all were at key positions. GM Ryan Poles knew he might be forced to overpay (or overdraft) somebody to fill those voids. That wasn’t something he was willing to accept. So the Bears got busy on the phones, sending out feelers to other teams to find out if any notable names might be available via trade.
First to pop up was Jonah Jackson. The former Pro Bowler had carved out a stellar run with the Detroit Lions before signing with the Los Angeles Rams last year. Injuries sent his season down the toilet, though. With his starting spot gone, the Rams opted to ship him out for a 6th round pick. He reunites with Ben Johnson in Chicago. The far bigger surprise came when the Bears pried future Hall of Famer Joe Thuney away from Kansas City, who was in the midst of a salary cap crunch.
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports has rated that move as the third-best trade of the entire 2025 offseason.
3. Joe Thuney to Bears
The Bears significantly needed to improve their offensive line, and acquiring a four-time All-Pro in Thuney was a significant upgrade for a team that needed to upgrade the interior of that unit. If Thuney plays guard and doesn’t have to move back to tackle (injury or Braxton Jones performance), this is a massive improvement over what Chicago had last season.
This line may take some time to gel, but Thuney is as good as they come.
The Chicago Bears knew what they were doing with this trade.
Thuney isn’t going to solve their offensive line issues in the long term. He’s in his 30s. They will be lucky if he can give them two or three more above-average seasons. His addition was all about providing much-needed stability up front. Caleb Williams is at a pivotal moment in his development as a young quarterback. The only way the Chicago Bears will get him pointed in the right direction is if they can ensure his protection. Thuney will do that. His reliability is second to none. To say nothing of his outstanding leadership. If the guard maintains his Hall of Fame ways for another few seasons, that trade will look like a masterstroke in hindsight.
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