The [Chicago Bears](https://www.windycitygridiron.com/) went into the 2025 offseason with both trenches all over their “needs” list. They struck hard and fast before the start of the new year, trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and agreeing to a deal with center Drew Dalman on the first day of the negotiation window to address the offensive line. They also agreed to terms with Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett to fill out the defensive line.
As we start the new league year today, we asked our writers a two-parter: What is your favorite move since Ben Johnson’s hiring, and what move do you want or what need to you need to see addressed?
**Josh:** Drew Dalman by far. For years, I’ve been begging Chicago to take the center position seriously. It’s overdue. However, Ben Johnson at least clearly understands the importance of the role and Chicago might finally have an answer to the fact that they have allowed league-high sack rates for three of the last four years.
The move I want to see is Poles managing a trade down in the draft. This is not a fantastic draft class at the top, but there are going to be teams that have to draft for need. I want to see Poles take advantage of another team’s desperation and recoup one of the picks he’s traded away, either in 2025 or 2026. In a perfect world, some team like Denver falls in love and comes up with their first, second, and a pick from 2026 in order to get their man. I’d even settle for making Dallas or Miami give up a 2026 Day 2 pick in order to shuffle up a few spots.
Barring any of this, or even on top of it, I’d get an irrational glee out of the hope that Ben Johnson could scheme another couple of more seasons out of Kyle Juszczyk.
**Mongo Peanut:** Trading for Joe Thuney. Getting a player as dominant and durable at a position of need for a future 4th rounder is an absolute steal. Thuney has won everywhere he has played in the league and will be instrumental in changing the culture in Chicago.
**Mason West:** Trading for Joe Thuney. The biggest issue IMO was the OL. You not only got better, but you got sizeably better in both skill and leadership. Bears had 8 captains last year but NONE were OL. That says a lot.
I would love a trade down, but I don’t see it happening. It would replace some lost draft capital and get out of the awkward zone in the first round that the Bears currently exist in. That being said, I would like Ben Johnson to get his guy at running back. Whatever Ben wants. If he wants Jeanty? Do it. If he wants Judkins? Go for it. (I personally don’t love Kaleb Johnson FWIW). Ben runs the ball. A lot. He has been on record saying that when things get bad, he leans on the running back. This shouldn’t just be a guy. This should be a dude.
**Jeff:** Thuney brings elite skill and leadership, something this offensive line unit needed desperately. But I want to give some love to the Grady Jarrett move. It’s essentially the Thuney move for the defensive line, bringing in a well respected anchor to the unit. As Thuney will be good for Darnell Wright and other younger linemen to learn from, Jarrett will do the same for Dexter and company on the other side. Camp should be a lot more interesting too.
I’m excited to see what the Bears do at running back. The Chicago Bears have a storied history at the position and I love a good back. It happens to be a deep class and the Bears have an additional premium pick from the Panthers trade burning a hole in their pocket. I’d imagine that we see a new back in Chicago before the end of Day 2 of this year’s draft. Will we see the Bears version of the “triplets” emerge with Caleb, Rome, and Jeanty/Hampton/Johnson?
**Steven:** It’s been really refreshing to see the Bears recognize that something just wasn’t working in their offensive line evaluations, so it was time to stop messing around and just address it as a priority. Drew Dalman and Joe Thuney are like night and day to what Lucas Patrick and Coleman Shelton were and I am excited to see this line gel.
Running back is the next major offensive domino, but I’ll be curious how the secondary comes together. Tyrique Stevenson had a down second half last season and most opportunities that Terrell Smith has seen have gone well for the former 5th-rounder. And at the safety positions, Jaquan Brisker missed a ton of time with a concussion and Kevin Byard isn’t getting any younger. Elijah Hicks hasn’t been awful, but I wouldn’t mind seeing another addition here.
**Ryan Droste:** There’s no question for me: It’s the trade for Joe Thuney. He’s an excellent player with a resume that will include Hall of Fame consideration. But on top of that, the leadership and experience that he will bring the OL room is undeniable. Four Super Bowl rings. Experience with two of the greatest head coaches of all time. Our OL room was without leadership last year, that won’t be the case any longer.
I’m most excited to see the move the Bears make at running back. With the massive moves made at OL over the last week, as well as addressing the DL (more here please), this is a move that all of the sudden seems like it will be addressed much earlier in the draft than we thought. I think that going RB at #10, while possible, seems like a stretch still. So I’m hoping Kaleb Johnson from Iowa is there for us in round two.
**Bryan Orenchuk:** Joe Thuney was the most unexpected and by far the best, IMO. It wasn’t long ago when Trey Smith dominated this round table as the favorite target. Well, Thuney is even better and will provide much needed leadership to his unit and the offense at large. Getting ahead of FA and the astronomical price tags for the underwhelming Guards was simply masterclass. Thuney has blocked for some all time great QB’s. Can Ben and Caleb continue the trend?
I would love for the draft to fall the right way and for Poles to capitalize. The moves (so far) in FA have given this team much more breathing room when it comes to the draft, but the long term trench makeover is not complete. Load up in first three picks at OL, DT and DE and snag a RB in the 3rd round and I will be thrilled. Not just for 2025, but for how that sets us up for years to come. Everything else is just gravy.
_**Your turn, folks. What have you liked so far, and what do you want to see going forward?**_