The Chicago Bears will do whatever it takes to uprade their offensive line this offseason, and some recent intel from the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs suggests they’ll have a great chance to do that in 2025 free agency.

The Chicago Bears have been connected to Kansas City Chiefs soon-to-be free-agent Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith for what feels like forever. Anytime Caleb Williams was sacked in 2024 (68 times, to be exact), Smith’s name would be raised as a potential offseason fix.

Still, Bears fans have worried that Smith might not hit free agency. The Chiefs have the option to use the franchise tag, keeping him locked in for at least the 2025 season. And why wouldn’t they? At just 25 years old, Smith is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top guards.

But as Lee Corso famously noted, “not so fast my friend.”

According to Chicago Bears insider Brad Biggs, there’s a growing expectation that Smith will become an unrestricted free agent and be able to negotiate with interested suitors come March 10, when the 48-hour period for teams to negotiate with free agents begins.

“I can tell you at the midpoint of the season, sentiment around the league was that there was little chance the Chiefs would allow Smith to depart,” Biggs wrote via the Chicago Tribune. “That shifted significantly by the end of the season, with folks I chatted with expecting him to reach the open market.

“The Chiefs have to figure out what they’re going to do with linebacker Nick Bolton, defensive end George Karlaftis and cornerback Trent McDuffie eligible for contract extensions. Perhaps positional value will lead them to allocate resources for the pass rusher and cover man over the interior offensive lineman.”

Trey Smith would go a long way in fixing Chicago Bears offensive line woes

Seeing Trey Smith line up next to Darnell Wright on the right side of the offensive line would be a welcome sight for Caleb Williams, who spent much of last season running for his life on passing downs.

Smith won’t come cheap, as he’s projected to earn between $21 million and $25 million per year. Given the traditionally lower value placed on guards, any general manager who signs him will have to weigh the hefty price tag carefully.

But beggars can’t be choosers, and the Chicago Bears are panhandling for offensive linemen at this point.

If Trey Smith hits the open market, and Ryan Poles somehow fails to sign him, he’ll have a lot of explaining to do. Especially to Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson.