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Bears Making Moves to Fix O-Line as Vikings Watch
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- Bears Making Moves to Fix O-Line as Vikings Watch
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The Minnesota Vikings have made it very clear early on this offseason. They have two main focuses between now and when training camp kicks off in July and that's fixing the interior defensive and offensive lines.
If we believe what the Vikings are selling us, then gone (supposedly) are the days where we watch Ed Ingram , Dalton Risner and Blake Brandel fail to open holes for Vikings running backs and get bowled over by more talented defensive tackles.
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So too, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, are weekends where defensive coordinator Brian Flores has to constantly scheme up unimaginable blitz packages and hide box numbers every week, in order to get pressure on the QB and slow opposing running backs.
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But, it appears we will have to wait until the free agency negotiating period begins on March 10, before we learn who the Minnesota Vikings will upgrade with. The same cannot be said for the Chicago Bears , though, who also entered the offseason with major issues on their interior offensive line. Not anymore.
Chicago Bears trade for two top offensive guards – Minnesota Vikings choose patience
They were not willing to wait until bidding wars get started next week. Instead, the Bears have completed trades for two guards — Jonah Jackson ( Rams ) Joe Thuney ( Chiefs ). Jackson was given permission to seek a trade out of LA last week, and did just that. The Thuney trade is a bit more surprising, but he too is entering the final year of his current deal.
In 24 hours, the Bears now have agreed to trade a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Rams for Jonah Jackson and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for Joe Thuney.
Bears are sparing no expense to protect Caleb Williams . pic.twitter.com/IW1OLfdfVJ— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2025
Bears trade 4th round pick for Joe Thuney
Joe Thuney is 32 years old . He is a former 3rd round pick of the New England Patriots back in 2016. Since being drafted, he has been one of the best and most reliable guards in the NFL for two different teams. Since his sophomore season, Thuney has never posted a PFF grade lower than 74.4.
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Related: New Perfect Fit Trade Targets Come Available for Vikings
Last season, he got an 80.0 overall grade, his second best ever. Thuney has a massive $26.9 million cap hit this season, the final year of his current five-year $80 million contract, but it's very possible he and the Bears work out an extension before the offseason is over.
Bears trade 6th round pick for Jonah Jackson
Jonah Jackson, 28, is a former third round pick by the Detroit Lions , so he has familiarity in the NFC North. In 2024, after signing a three-year , $51 million contact with the Rams last offseason, he ended up playing just four games because he was usurped on the roster by second-year guard out of TCU, Steve Avila .
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Jackson has a $14.6 million cap hit in 2025 . The Bears are banking on Jackson's falling out with the Rams as more of a credit to Avila, than a detriment on Jackson, but that has yet to be proven. In week 18 last season vs the Seahawks , Jonah Jackson was on a mission to prove he's a starter, posting a 91.8 PFF grade , which may have helped convince the Bears to deal for him.
We'll find out who did the right thing, in time. But the Minnesota Vikings don't have much of a choice, other than patience. They do not have much for draft capital to trade away, even if they wanted to pull a move like what the Bears did. There's no doubting whose O-line currently looks better, though.
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