The Chicago Bears are expected to be quite active in free agency as they look to shore up the roster at key positions, including most notably offensive line.
Following the news that the Kansas City Chiefs placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith, the Bears have to pivot elsewhere in free agency when looking to shore up the offensive interior. While Smith was the cream of the crop at projected available free-agent guards, there are some other notable names.
That includes Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries, who ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes would be a perfect free-agent signing for Chicago.
Fries, who will turn 27 in April, has developed into one of the NFL’s best guards, and he would be an upgrade at right guard for an offensive line that allowed a league-high 68 sacks on quarterback Caleb Williams last season. While Fries did suffer a season-ending leg injury early on last season, he had career bests in pass block win rate and run block win rate in the five games he played.
The entire interior of Chicago’s offensive line will be leaving in free agency, so let’s beef up quarterback Caleb Williams’ pass protection. Fries will be just 27 years old this season, and he’s playing his best ball.
In the five games he played in before he suffered a season-ending leg injury, he posted career bests in both pass block win rate (92.4%) and run block win rate (74.3%). Fries ranked 37th with a 90.9% pass block win rate and had a league-average 70.3% run block win rate in 2023.
Chicago has multiple positions to fill along the offensive line, and it appears they’ll look to start from the inside out. Drew Dalman, who’s been a top center with the Atlanta Falcons, figures to be their top target. But with Smith likely staying in Kansas City on the franchise tag, Fries would be a good consolation prize at guard.
