Chicago Bears trade for Jonah Jackson shows Ryan Poles desperation on offensive line

The Chicago Bears need offensive line help, even if that help is another team's free-agent bust. Trading for Jonah Jackson is an expensive gamble for Ryan Poles.

Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson warms up before the Denver Broncos game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Chicago Bears' offensive line needs a complete overhaul on the interior as Ryan Poles looks to replace both starting guards and his starting center.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, like trading for another team's expensive, free agent bust.

Sending a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for Jonah Jackson isn't the type of move that inspires a ton of confidence for the Bears.

He signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Rams last offseason and struggled in the four games he played this year.

Jonah Jackson was a Pro Bowl player in 2021, a versatile IOL who has played all three positions. This is an obvious example of Ben Johnson's influence on personnel, acquiring a player who excelled with him in Detroit. The Bears are dealing the 6th they acquired for Justin Fields.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) March 4, 2025

Jackson suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2, and when he returned from injured reserve, he was benched due to poor play.

Los Angeles owed him over $17 million this year and wanted nothing to do with him. In comes the Bears to take him off their hands.

The hope is that Jackson can return to a higher level of play, closer to what he was over the first four years of his career in Detroit under Ben Johnson.

That's an expensive gamble for Poles, who could have used all of that salary cap space to sign a free agent that might be better quality without costing a late-round pick in a trade.

Jonah Jackson is overpaid and overrated, but the Bears need three new OL starters

Probably less risk in trading for a player you know and trust versus signing a free agent you’ve never worked with before

— Lorin Cox (@CoxSports1) March 4, 2025

The silver lining is that Jackson's contract only guarantees him money for 2025, and Chicago could cut him after one season with minimal salary cap impact.

But the Bears are desperate and still need to find two more starters on the interior of the offensive line.

Securing Jackson in the left guard spot ahead of free agency gives Poles one less variable to have to account for and less desperation to have to sign three new starters in free agency.

It's not the move that many Bears fans were hoping for, but it's the first step in improving the position most important to Caleb Williams' success in 2025.

More Chicago Bears News:

• PFF builds Chicago Bears’ perfect offseason featuring two stud offensive linemen

• 2025 NFL Combine reveals more first-round offensive line options for Bears beyond Will Campbell

• Questioning wisdom of a Bears bidding war for guard Will Fries

• Ashton Jeanty gaining momentum as first-round target for Bears in 2025 NFL Draft