Even as people around the Chicago Bears continue to speculate about wide receivers the team can add, one thing remains unchanged. GM Ryan Poles, the man who runs the show, said as clear as day that the offensive line will be a priority. Don’t forget three of their five starters from last season are free agents. Poles himself is a former offensive lineman. It would not be a shock to see him devote significant resources to that position. Maybe the best thing to do is establish a veteran in the group. Somebody with the mentality and pedigree Poles covets—someone like Ryan Jensen.
The 30-year old made his first Pro Bowl in 2021, a year after helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl. He’s established a reputation as one of the best centers in the NFL. Jensen is a dominant run blocker that allowed just 21 pressures in 17 games last season. The veteran may look for a fresh start elsewhere with Tom Brady gone and no QB of note on the roster. Ben Linsey of ESPN believes he would be the perfect fit for the Bears’ needs.
“Chicago’s priority needs to be putting quarterback Justin Fields in a better position to succeed in his second season. A veteran center of Jensen’s caliber would certainly help. Jensen has graded out above the 70th percentile in gap and zone rushing schemes over the past three seasons, and it’s easy to see former offensive lineman and new Bears general manager Ryan Poles valuing the physicality and “nastiness” that Jensen would bring to Chicago’s offensive line.”
The Bucs OL played well as a whole last night, but Ryan Jensen stood out most & made a statement with his performance against Hargrave. In case anyone forgot who OC1 is.. pic.twitter.com/LZ3liRb623
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 15, 2021
Ryan Jensen official highlight tape preview…full 14+ minute video dropping tomorrow for Trench Warfare subscribers along with several others 👀
Volume 👆 pic.twitter.com/qdnyKebtwS
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) May 23, 2021
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Money will be a big factor here.
Tampa Bay has already said they want Jensen back. He’d been making $11 million per year since signing an extension back in 2018. It stands to reason he’ll want more than that since he just made the Pro Bowl for the first time. So it comes down to whether Poles would be willing to pay him. The Bears GM said he wanted to be selective in free agency. That kind of language suggests that larger contracts aren’t going to happen.
Now Ryan Jensen would make the offensive line better. That isn’t up for debate. If he’s healthy, he is multiple levels above Sam Mustipher. Signing him would allow Poles to bolster the tackle and guard spots in the draft. It is only that Chicago has so many roster holes that spending lots of money on one player likely won’t make a big enough difference. Then again, if it’s for the well-being of Justin Fields there may be no price too high.
