The Chicago Bears attacked the interior of their offensive line last year, and they came away with a Pro Bowl center, an All-Pro left guard, and a right guard who finished fourth in the All-Pro voting with seven first-place votes.
Here are the current guards on the roster.
Joe Thuney – Signed through 2027 – I expected Thuney to play at a high level when the Bears sent a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for him, but he played at the highest possible level by winning the inaugural Protector of the Year Award. The offensive line is a team within a team, and the talent doesn’t always gel as you hope, but Thuney’s skill, experience, and leadership were exactly what the Bears needed.
Jonah Jackson – Signed through 2027 – The Bears got Jackson for a fifth-round pick and immediately extended his deal. The 29-year-old helped solidify Chicago’s right side, and I would not be surprised if he gets another extension before his current deal expires.
Prior to the 2025 season, Pro Football Focus predicted that Thuney and Jackson would be the best guard tandem in the league, and they played up to that standard.
Luke Newman – Signed through 2028 – Newman, a 2025 rookie, played in nine games, and he was even the first guard off the bench in Week 12 when Jackson left with an injury. He may not be the eventual heir apparent when Thuney walks away, but if he can be a quality depth player able to play all three interior spots, that’s a good use of a sixth-round pick.
Kyle Hergel – Signed through 2026 – Hergel was on the Bears’ practice squad for a couple of months, and they brought him back on a reserve/futures contract. He was originally a UDFA of the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and was up and down from their practice squad a few times. All his in-game experience in college was at guard, but he said he cross-trained at center in practice. If he can show the ability to back up all three spots in the NFL, that could keep him around Halas Hall in 2026.
Jordan McFadden – Restricted free agent – Considering McFadden got the start in the playoffs, I think the Bears will bring him back. However, I don’t think they’ll tender him an offer as a restricted free agent, which would be an over $3 million commitment.
2026 OUTLOOK – With Thuney and Jackson locked up for two more years, the Bears can slow-play this position in the offseason. It’s never a bad idea to add to the trenches, but another late-round pick or a vet-minimum type in free agency is about as much as I see them doing.
Free agent Kayode Awosika (27) started eight games in Ben Johnson’s Lions offense from 2022 to 2024, and he started four games last season for Detroit.
What do you think the Bears will do at guard this offseason?