Chicago Bears GM says extending veteran is a ‘priority’

Last year’s protection unit for Chicago Bears’ rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will not be back this fall, and it’s very easy to see why. The former number one overall draft pick was sacked a league-high 68 times a year ago and he received plenty of criticism because of the games where his numbers suffered because of this.

Williams finished the season starting in all 18 games, which many people were shocked by because of the consistent hits he took on a weekly basis. The former USC Trojan was the first rookie quarterback in Chicago Bears history to complete a campaign with over 3,000 yards passing. His final yardage mark sat at 3,541 to pair with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.

In order to get the most out of Williams in new head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme, general manager Ryan Poles knew he needed to go out and make multiple moves earlier on this offseason. Through the trade market and free agency, the front office went to work in upgrading the protection unit for Williams and they already want to keep an addition around beyond this upcoming season.

Chicago Bears GM says extending Joe Thuney is a “priority”

Along with preparing for the draft, Poles made it known that extending Joe Thuney is a “priority” at some point before camp gets fully underway at the end of the summer. The veteran was the biggest splash that Poles made this offseason among three other important additions on the offensive line. Thuney was acquired less than a week before free agency opened up last month from the Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2026.

Thuney is a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and four-time Super Bowl champion and is set to enter his 10th season in the NFL this fall. Despite being 32 years old, he has put together one fantastic season after another and has experience protecting the two greatest signal callers the game has ever seen.

Getting the privilege to block for Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes has put Thuney’s name among the best protectors in the NFL, and he still has plenty to offer for the Bears. He is durable, as he played in 17 games for the Chiefs a season ago. The lone contest he did not play in was in Week 18 against the Broncos when Kansas City had already locked up the top seed in the AFC.

Thuney ranked 12th overall among all NFL guards last season with a 79.9 PFF grade. He finished fifth in the pass blocking department, which is huge for the Bears moving forward.

The Chicago Bears O-Line needs depth with Joe Thuney and company

Along with the additions of Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, Chicago appears to be all set up front in protecting Williams this season. However, depth was a major issue from them last year, and that is something that should be fully addressed before the preseason hits.

There are guys in the offensive line room right now like last year’s third-round draft pick, Kiran Amegadjie, who is viewed as a project by those within the organization. Him being thrusted into a starting role at the last second in December against the Vikings did not end well, and Poles wants to avoid a situation like that happening again this upcoming season.