For months now, Chicago Bears fans have felt two things about the trenches: the defensive line is the team’s weakness, and the offensive line woes have finally been put to rest.
Then Ozzy Trapilo, the emerging LT, went down in the playoffs.
Then Drew Dalman, 27-year-old Pro Bowl Center, retires.
A five-man unit that looked essentially set for 2026 has been whittled down to three.
Meanwhile, the DL has been frustrating since the departure of Khalil Mack. While there are some pieces, many fans are pining
for a Maxx Crosby-sized addition.
So, which side of the Bears’ line is more concerning to you?
Personally, I am more concerned about the OL.
Which is crazy considering how I felt about it in December. But it boils down to a few things:
- Caleb Williams is your franchise. You can only go as far as Caleb can go, and we saw the difference in him with and without a good OL. His play style requires good OL play.
- The two openings on the OL are massive. Your LT spot may still be reserved for Ozzy, but if he can’t rehab back to what he showed during his rookie season, suddenly you’re in the market for the priciest OL spot to fill.
- Meanwhile, we have seen what a bad center looks like, and it’s a mess. You either have snapping issues that can lead to huge errors or poor blocking up the middle which limits your passing and rushing attacks.
- The Bears still only have one guy on the OL that they can trust is here for the long haul – Darnell Wright. While Thuney looked great last season, he’s still getting up there in age, and it’s only a matter of time before his play declines. Jackson, at RG, was really solid in 2025, but has had some injury concerns in the past.
Without another young, long-term, talented OL under contract like Dalman, the Bears suddenly look light up front.
The DL, no doubt, has issues too. However, I think that there are enough pieces currently in Booker, Sweat, Dexter, and Turner that can still provide solid or above-average play to provide a base. While you don’t have stars on the DL like you do on the OL, you also don’t have gaping holes either. Meanwhile, I think the upcoming draft has a lot more talent available for the Bears to augment their DL.
Life comes at you fast, Bears fans; and my answer to this question will undoubtedly be different this time next week.
