The Bears are coming off a surprising season with first year head coach Ben Johnson where the team went 11-6 and won their division after going 5-12 the year prior to Johnson’s arrival. Chicago also won a playoff game and were in very strong position to advance to the NFC Championship game before QB Caleb Williams threw an untimely interception in the Divisional round . The Bears however made their living this past season being very strong in close games and thriving in the turnover department. The team lacked a true identity, and they were not consistently elite on either side of the ball and possessed an overall ceiling as a team that was closer to average. Although the intangibles that this Bears’ team showed last year was indeed remarkable, that itself cannot be the foundation for long term success at the highest level in the NFL. Eventually the Bears will need to be consistently elite on either if not both sides of the ball and as QB Caleb Williams heads into year 2 with the offensive minded Ben Johnson, the offense in particular will be expected to be consistently elite. Outside of just the QB play and the offensive coaching, the personnel the Bears have on offense will also loom quite large. Here I will go into detail assessing the personnel the Bears have on the offensive line as the season approaches.
Set to start at left tackle for the Bears as of now is 2025 2nd rounder Ozzy Trapilo who is coming off a solid rookie season that he is in line to build off of going forward. Trapilo as a rookie playing in nearly 500 snaps ranked (40/95) in terms of an overall offense grade among qualified tackles according to Pro Football Focus. Trapilo showed proficiency in terms of pass protection in particular although having his struggles as a run blocker. Trapilo, given his solid rookie season and high draft selection, will be in line to become a high-end starter if not a star going forward at left tackle for Chicago.
Future hall of famer Joe Thuney is set to start at left guard for the Bears and is among the best players in the NFL. Thuney is one of the most decorated offensive lineman in league history, making five All-Pro teams and winning four Super Bowls with two different teams. Thuney has now made three straight first team All-Pro’s and was given the award for being the best offensive lineman in the NFL during the 2025 season. Thuney will however turn 34 years old next season and could begin to decline. If he does not however, then the Bears will have among the premier offensive lineman in the sport starting for them at left guard.
After the unexpected retirement of Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman this offseason the team acquired former 1st rounder Garrett Bradbury. Bradbury has been mostly a disappointment thus far in the NFL as a former first rounder and is likely better suited as a backup, although he has shown some promise. Bradbury in six of seven seasons in the NFL has graded in the below average range among players at his position, although grading in the top ten the remaining time. Bradbury is currently listed as the starter but could transition to a reserve role at some point next season.
Currently listed as the right guard starter for the Bears is veteran Jonah Jackson who is a quality NFL starter. Jackson has graded in the above average range in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position in every season outside of his rookie year according to Pro Football Focus. Jackson is especially proficient as a run blocker grading in the borderline elite range in that department with regularity, he does however struggle in pass protection quite often although having a career year in that department in 2025.
Slated to start at right tackle is 2023 first rounder Darnell Wright who has lived up to his high draft billing thus far in the NFL. Wright, a top ten overall pick, has graded in the well above average range among players at his position in both seasons outside of his rookie year, including earning second team All-Pro honors in 2025. As Wright goes into year 2 with Ben Johnson, we could see him truly come into his own and emerge as a household name among NFL offensive linemen.
From a depth standpoint on the offensive line the Bears have several notable names that could provide some strong depth and/or potentially step into the starting lineup eventually. Tackle Braxton Jones was listed as the left tackle starter for much of the offseason and was a quality starter for years. Jones as of now will be among the premier reserve offensive lineman in the NFL if he remains on the team. The Bears also drafted center Logan Jones in the 2nd round this year who was given the award for being the best center in all of college football during 2025. Jones in particular could step into the starting lineup for the inconsistent Bradbury. 2025 6th rounder guard/tackle Luke Newman looked very strong in very limited rookie snaps. Former first round tackle Jedrick Wills Jr has been mostly a bust thus far although showing some promise. While 2024 3rd round guard Kiran Amegadjie has struggled in very limited NFL snaps but has not had the chance to really come into his own as of yet. The depth that the Bears have on the offensive front ranks up there with any team in the NFL.
In totality the Bears as of now have a very good offensive line that could eventually prove to be a great one in time. A breakdown of the unit heading into next year can be found below. They have one pluggable hole in their starting lineup, the high-end talent in their starting lineup ranks up there with any team, and the depth they have on the offensive front is exceptional.
Projected 2026 Bears’ Starting Offensive Line
LT – Ozzy Trapilo – B- as rookie in ’25, 2025 2nd rounder
LG – Joe Thuney – A
C – Garrett Bradbury – C+, former first rounder who has shown some promise, likely better suited as backup
RG – Jonah Jackson – B-
RT – Darnell Wright – B+ to A-, still improving as 2023 1st rounder
Notable 2026 Bears’ Reserve Offensive Linemen
T – Braxton Jones – B-
C – Logan Jones – 2026 2nd rounder, given award for best college center in 2025
G – Luke Newman – 2026 2nd rounder, 2025 6th rounder, B- in very limited rookie snaps
T – Jedrick Wills Jr – C to C+, former first rounder, been mostly a bust, has shown some promise
G – Kiran Amegadjie – 2024 3rd rounder, poor in very limited snaps thus far, yet has had enough chance to prove himself however
