Latest league-wide ranking should have Chicago Bears fans feeling a lot more comfortable about the new guard duo in 2025 and beyond
The Chicago Bears made some significant moves as an organization this offseason, multiple of which were highly out of character from what we've seen out of this team and front office in past seasons.On the field, the two biggest out-of-character moves came from two trades that occurred within days of each other to acquire two […]
The Chicago Bears made some significant moves as an organization this offseason, multiple of which were highly out of character from what we've seen out of this team and front office in past seasons.
On the field, the two biggest out-of-character moves came from two trades that occurred within days of each other to acquire two starting guards in Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, at a very reasonable bargain.
The Jackson-trade was all head coach Ben Johnson being able to reunite with a player he helped reach a Pro Bowl level in Detroit. As for Thuney, the trade marked the second time general manager Ryan Poles helped bring the experienced veteran into an organization looking for leadership up-front.
"We want some tough, some gritty, some dirty individuals and we feel pretty good about the two guys we got," Johnson explained. "Beyond that, their play speaks for themselves in terms of what the tape says. The character, the integrity, it’s top-notch. I can speak firsthand with Jonah and Ryan can speak firsthand with Joe. I am really, really excited to get these guys in the room combined with the coaches that we’ve already put together for that room. I feel really good about the style of play we’ll have this year."
The combo of Thuney and Jackson gives Chicago two talented guards who have been around the league for a while and understand what high-level play looks like. Together, this duo is so good, they're already receiving some top national praise.
Pro Football Focus' Zoltán Buday ranked the top positional duos in the league at each position and listed Thuney and Jackson as the top guard duo in the NFL.
"The NFL seems to lack an elite guard duo right now, but the Bears' offseason acquisitions on the interior profile as the league's best.
Jackson played only 267 snaps with the Rams in 2024 and was benched despite having signed a big contract last offseason. In previous years, he ranked among the top 30 guards in PFF overall grade multiple times under then-Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now the Chicago Bears' head coach. Slightly above-average play from Jackson could be enough to make this duo the best in the NFL.
Joe Thuney is arguably the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL. Before moving to left tackle in 2024, he was playing some of the best football of his career. Between Week 5 and Week 12, he allowed only one pressure on 316 pass plays and earned a 95.6 PFF pass-blocking grade, which led all guards by a significant margin." – PFF's Zoltán Buday
Thuney and Jackson are ready to help reinforce the Bears' OL
Attacking the offensive line was a major point of emphasis for Poles and Johnson with these two trades being only the start. After acquiring both players, the front office quickly got to work on extensions for each guard to lock them up together through the 2027 season.
After that, the organization also brought in center Drew Dalman in free agency on a 3-year deal and then used two draft picks on Ozzy Trapilo and Luke Newman.
All of those decisions will hopefully help overhaul a unit that allowed a league-high 68 sacks during the 2024 season for years to come.
But, the two new additions at guard shouldn't be overlooked amongst all the other moves. Chicago guards allowed a combined 15 sacks and 68 total pressures during the 2024 season. Thuney and Jackson are massive additions for this entire team.
OL depth still seems to be a quiet concern for Bears despite confidence in a revamped starting unit but training camp can change that
This unit still needs to fully prove themselves.
