The Chicago Bears may be entering a new era, but there is still plenty of work to be done in the rebuild.
Chicago believes it has found the face of the franchise in Caleb Williams at quarterback, and has done a solid job surrounding him with talented players. The defense also shows plenty of promise, as the Bears have drafted linebackers and cornerbacks well in recent seasons.
However, keeping Williams in good position will be paramount to the Bears’ success, and the offensive line the rookie will inherit doesn’t look great on paper. The biggest hole appears to be at center, where Ryan Bates is being cited as the current starter over Coleman Shelton.
While either of those six-year veterans could prove useful in 2024, the Bears would be wise to look for an upgrade at the position for next season. And there aren’t many better options than a four-time Pro Bowler.
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s scouting department predicted that the Bears will draft Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly in 2025. Kelly was the Colts’ first-round pick in 2016 and has spent his entire NFL career in Indy.
“The pivot is arguably the biggest weakness on Chicago’s roster right now,” the authors said. “While Kelly, who turns 32 in May, won’t be with the club long, he can ensure Williams stays upright after allowing just seven pressures in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.”
In addition to his four Pro Bowls, Kelly was named a second-team All-Pro in 2020. The ninth-year veteran has started 111 games in his career, completing just 1.6 percent of his blocks and racking up 184 total points, according to Sports Information Solutions.
If the Bears want to ensure a long and productive career for Caleb Williams, having a steady hand like Kelly to get him the ball would be a great place to start. And with a projected salary of $73 million in 2025 ceiling space (Spotrac), they would have plenty of room for Kelly on their payroll.
Sure, Kelly could have other offers. But the Bears could do a lot to sway his decision to come to Chicago with another four-game winning streak like the one they had last season.
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