The Chicago Bears aren’t messing around this offseason. GM Ryan Poles has never been shy about acquiring players via trade. He traded for wide receiver DJ Moore in the trade that also netted them quarterback Caleb Williams. Poles followed it up with an in-season trade for pass rusher Montez Sweat. Keenen Allen was acquired last offseason via trade as well. The Bears are making more moves in the early stages of free agency. Reports surfaced Wednesday morning that the Bears are acquiring All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chicago Bears Acquire Joe Thuney From Chiefs
On Tuesday, the Chicago Bears sent a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for offensive lineman Jonah Jackson. Poles followed this up with a big splash. They are getting one of the best offensive linemen in the league over the past few years in Joe Thuney. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the compensation is a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Thuney is 32 years old but has shown he can still play at an elite level. He started every game for the Chiefs last season and has plenty of postseason experience under his belt. The two-time All-Pro is a four-time Super Bowl champion and has plenty of postseason snaps. Reports indicate an extension is likely for Joe Thuney from his new team. All of this cannot be made official until the start of the league new year on March 12.
Bears Are Turning Heads
The Chicago Bears have a clear plan this offseason. Last year, Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times. While some of them were on the rookie for holding the ball too long, the offensive line didn’t do him any favors. In the past 24 hours, the Bears have acquired two quality pieces to protect their franchise quarterback.
New head coach Ben Johnson probably has some influence here. During his time in Detroit, he had one of the best offensive lines in the league, making the offense much easier to call. The Bears have no shortage of weapons, but with no offensive line, none of it matters. In a short amount of time, the Bears went from lots of questions about their line to lots of answers.
Final Thoughts
It is worth noting that this is a curious move from the Chiefs. The offensive line was an issue for them all year, especially in the Super Bowl, and they just got rid of their best lineman. It may have been a contract issue. Regardless, the Chicago Bears and their fans are happy to get an All-Pro-level talent for the upcoming season.
