4 Bears Free Agency Bold Predictions: Will Ryan Poles open up the check book to properly fix the offensive line this time around?
The Chicago Bears have a critical offseason ahead of them and enough sense of urgency to make the coming weeks exciting to follow.After spending big to land head coach Ben Johnson and a star-studded coaching staff, it's clear this organization is tired of the constant losing and willing to drag this team out of the […]
The Chicago Bears have a critical offseason ahead of them and enough sense of urgency to make the coming weeks exciting to follow.
After spending big to land head coach Ben Johnson and a star-studded coaching staff, it's clear this organization is tired of the constant losing and willing to drag this team out of the depths sooner than later.
That all starts this offseason and the Bears have plenty of resources to make some major moves. With that being said, I broke down four different bold predictions the Bears' front office can make to overhaul the roster, including spending big at a dire position of need. Here are those four predictions:
Prediction #1: Bears land Trey Smith AND Drew Dalman
As bold as this is, it's the path many fans are hoping to see from the Bears this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles HAS to get serious about overhauling the offensive line after watching Caleb Williams lead the NFL in sacks taken.
Last year, the Bears cheaped out in free agency adding Coleman Shelton, Matt Pryor, and Jake Curhan to low-market deals. While also trading for Ryan Bates and drafting Kiran Amegadjie in the third-round. That's all they did to address the offensive line.
This time around, the Bears need to open up the check book and make sure they land some actual top players up-front. Right guard Trey Smith is the big one, and the Bears should be fully prepared to offer him a contract that will make him the highest-paid guard in football. Our A to Z Sports Chiefs' expert Charles Goldman pitched a four-year deal at $77.7M or a five-year deal at $97.125M to keep Smith in KC. The Bears would have to offer something along those lines, or more, to land him.
As for the other half of this prediction, the Bears also have to find a new long-term center and 26-year-old Drew Dalman is the top option in free agency. Spotrac projects Dalman to land a three-year, $20.2 million contract, which would put him in the Top-10 among yearly average at the position.
The Bears will have around $70 million in cap space after the new projections and can free up more with some various roster cuts. Signing both Smith and Dalman to top contracts is feasible but it would eat into a good chuck of the cap. If you ask me, it's absolutely worth it to lock in both positions for years to come.
Prediction #2: Keenan Allen returns for another season
With the new salary cap bump, this looks more possible for the Bears but it all depends on head coach Ben Johnson. We know Caleb Williams and DJ Moore would love to run things back with the veteran pass-catcher and Allen wants to run it back too, but it's ultimately Johnson's call to make if he wants him back or not.
Allen's already noted that his desire in his first ever trip to free agency is to remain in Chicago or return to Los Angeles. He doesn't want to find a new city to move to. The Chargers already found his replacement in Ladd McConkey and might not want a reunion with their franchise legend. As for the Rams, they're already actively looking to move a 30+ year old slot WR of their own in Cooper Kupp, who's also a legend in LA.
Allen's best option in free agency to fulfill his ideal goal would be to return to Chicago, if the team will have him back. He just led the team with seven touchdowns in 2024 and spending a full offseason with Johnson and Williams can help make for a more fruitful connection this time around.
Prediction #3: Bears make a splash trade, acquire Micah Parsons
The biggest move the Bears could make this offseason is landing another blockbuster trade to add another impact pass rusher. Finding someone to line up opposite Montez Sweat will be a high priority for the team and there's multiple avenues to find one.
Disgruntled players such as Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, and Micah Parsons could all find new homes with better opportunities this offseason. Free agents such as Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat, and Azeez Ojulari are also enticing to pursue.
For the sake of boldness, let's say the Bears make a move to peel Parsons away from the Dallas Cowboys. The deal to do so would have to cost the Bears the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, their 2026 first-rounder, and more. Not to mention making him the highest-paid non-QB in the league.
It would be a steep price to pay, but Parsons is an absolute game-changer. The only downside is losing all the assets needed to overhaul the offensive line. It's unlikely, but man it would be insane to see Sweat and Parsons rushing the passer in Chicago
Prediction #4: Ryan Poles finds a new slot weapon
On Wednesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that there's a 75% chance the Jaguars cut wide receiver Christian Kirk. But, he then added that Kirk's contract is reasonable enough to generate some trade value if he's healthy (Kirk will be coming off a season-ending collarbone injury in 2025).
Last offseason, Poles coughed up a 2024 fourth-rounder to land a slot weapon in Keenan Allen, who was set to make $23 million in 2024. Kirk is only set to make $16.5 million in 2025. Parting with a fifth-round pick in 2025 to land Kirk could be worth it to replace Allen in the slot, adding a younger and more explosive weapon to the offense.
Bears are in even better shape to make some splashes this offseason to kick off the Ben Johnson Era thanks to latest NFL news
This is great news for everyone.
