PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 19: Jonah Jackson #72 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before … [+] the game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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Taking advantage of an abundance of salary cap room, the Bears have made their first move rebuilding their offensive line. It’s a gamble on 2021 All-Pro guard Jonah Jackson, whose 2024 season was wrecked by a shoulder injury and an unsuccessful shift to center.
The 28-year-old Jackson received the fourth highest contract among free agent offensive linemen last season, departing Detroit for the Los Angeles Rams on a three-year, $51 million deal. The Bears are assuming his guaranteed $17 million this season after sending the Rams only a sixth-round pick.
The key to the deal is that new Bears head coach Ben Johnson was in Detroit for all four of Jackson’s seasons as a regular. He was originally a third-round pick from Ohio State in the 2020 draft.
Reports suggested the Lions attempted to re-sign Jackson a year ago before allowing him to leave as a free agent. The Rams worked Jackson at center but shifted him back to guard when Steve Avila sprained his knee in the opener against Detroit. Jackson went out with a shoulder injury in the third quarter of the second game, at Arizona, and played in only two games the rest of the season.
Jackson seemed like damaged goods throughout his year-long stay in Los Angeles. He ended 2024 inactive due to a meniscus tear in his knee, missing the NFC Championship Game, and then was limited by that injury in the spring. He suffered a bruised scapula during training camp, which had kept him off the practice field before the opener.
Needing to upgrade all three positions in the middle of the line, the Bears are willing to give Jackson a mulligan on his disappointing year with the Rams, provided he can pass a physical. It seems likely that Johnson would have pushed the trade across the finish line. The deal will not become official until the 2025 NFL year begins officially on March 12.
The Bears had ranked fourth in the NFL in salary cap room before acquiring Johnson. They currently sit seventh with about $61.4 million in cap room.
General Manager Ryan Poles is expected to be active in free agency as he works to improve the protection in front of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Falcons center Drew Dalman is arguably the most attractive target now that Kansas City has indicated it will use a franchise tag to retain guard Trey Smith.
The Bears have seven picks in the draft, including three of the top 41. The draft is considered deep in offensive linemen, so Poles could be giving himself the flexibility to add an offensive weapon with the 10th overall pick by acquiring Jackson.
It was recently reported the Bears have requested a visit from Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who could fill a Jahmyr Gibbs-like role as a pro. Detroit surprisingly selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick of the 2023 draft.
The addition of Jackson seems to eliminate any chance of the Bears re-signing guard Teven Jenkins, who heads into free agency with a long history of injuries. Jenkins is seeking a long-term deal, and Jackson’s contract carries no guarantees beyond 2025. If Jackson doesn’t return to form, the Bears could move on and seek an impact blocker as soon as the trade deadline next season.
