Offensive line help this offseason for the Chicago Bears will come in through every avenue possible to get the unit shored up for the 2025 season. They surrendered 68 sacks with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams under center last year, which was by far the most in the entire league.
As things stand right now, the Bears will only have two starting offensive linemen returning from last year’s team. Darnell Wright will anchor the right side of the line as the right tackle after being a first-round pick of Chicago in 2023.
Braxton Jones is tentatively slotted in at left tackle, where he has been playing since being a fifth-round draft pick of the organization in 2022. However, some believe Jones might be better suited at guard long-term, so Chicago snagging a tackle either in the draft or free agency could be a strong possibility. If the Bears are serious at tackle, an under-the-radar prospect from the Big Ten could be right up their alley.
Josh Simmons is a sleeper prospect for the Chicago Bears
If it wasn’t for the season-ending knee injury that Josh Simmons sustained in the Buckeyes biggest regular season game this past year against Oregon, he could very well be considered as the best tackle in this draft class. The San Diego native began his collegiate career playing for his hometown school. Simmons redshirted at San Diego State in 2021 before playing in 13 games the following season.
The four-star recruit then made the tough decision to transfer away from home by landing at one of the top programs in the nation. Just like in his last season as an Aztec, Simmons logged 13 games with Ohio State in 2023 before having just six games to his name this past year.
Simmons finished his shortened 2024 season with a 74.4 overall PFF grade. Scouts praise the six-foot-five, 310-pound tackle on his lateral mobility and his versatility on the line. Simmons has spent time in his collegiate career at both tackle spots, which will only boost his draft stock.
If Simmons can bounce back to form to begin his NFL career, he will be a slam-dunk selection for whoever picks him up. The value on him will be well worth it with the injury bringing him down amongst the rest of this tackle class.
Why Josh Simmons wouldn’t fit with the Chicago Bears
Adding the major injury to something that will go against Simmons in the draft, he racked up quite a few penalties (25) between his last season at SDSU and his first year at Ohio State. The Bears have dealt with Jones’ penalty issues at left tackle and the last thing they need is for Simmons to be a liability in the same regard.
The Bears will need to be extremely confident in Simmons’ medical testing to feel confident investing a first-round pick in him. Rebuilding this offensive line is a crucial task for Ryan Poles to ensure the development of Williams will not be hindered as he enters his second season in the league.
The only way Chicago could justify selecting Simmons is by trading down in the first round. He won’t be worthy of the 10th overall pick, with names like Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas and Will Campbell from LSU expected to go ahead of him.
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