The Chicago Bears got active with less than one week to go before the legal free agency tampering period begins on March 10. The Bears swung a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, whom they beat in 2024, for offensive lineman Jonah Jackson.
Bears Trade for Rams G Jonah Jackson Before Free Agency
Jonah Jackson Adds Experience, Versatility to Bears OL
A third-round pick by the Detroit Lions – where he played for Bears head coach Ben Johnson – in 2020, Jackson signed with the Rams in free agency during the 2024 offseason.
He appeared in four games in 2024 due to a shoulder injury and ended up on the trading block.
“Trade: Rams are in the process of sending veteran offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, per ESPN’s @CourtneyRCronin,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in a post on X on March 4. “The trade cannot be processed until March 12.”
Jackson, 28, was a Pro Bowler in 2020, but he became the odd man out for the Rams who went to the NFC Divisional Playoffs. The Lions replaced him with an older player (Kevin Zeitler) in free agency last offseason. Jackson has not played a full regular-season slate since his rookie season.
He is heading into the Year 2 of a three-year, $51 million contract with an $11.8 million cap hit for 2025.
Notably, the Bears can get out of the deal with nearly $6.2 million in net savings in 2026.
Bears Trade Could Signal Exit for Teven Jenkins
Cronin noted Jackson’s positional versatility, but also that he played on the left side during his time with Johnson in Detroit. That is notable with 2024 Bears starters Matt Pryor and Teven Jenkins free agents this offseason.
Jenkins notably earned a higher grade from Pro Football Focus than Jackson and Pryor in 2024. He too has dealt with durability issues in his career.
Meanwhile, Pryor is 30 and started five more games in 2024 than ever before in his career.
Perhaps the Bears enter training camp with all three players. Over The Cap projects them to have the fourth-most cap space at $67.8 million. Spotrac projects a three-year, $31 million pact for Jenkins and a one-year, $5.2 million deal for Pryor.
Jackson can play both guard spots and center. Jenkins has experience at both guard spots and at right tackle. Pryor has played everywhere along the offensive line except for center.
For now, Jackson is the only one seemingly locked into the fold for the 2025 season.
Bears Center Position Also Back in Focus
Center Coleman Shelton was arguably the most consistent Bears offensive lineman, save for Darnell Wright, and Caleb Williams credited the veteran with helping him throughout the campaign.
But Shelton is a free agent, leaving Jackson (who had mixed results) and 2024 trade acquisition Ryan Bates as the most experienced options at the position on the Bears’ roster ahead of free agency.
Bates is an example of a trade like the one for Jackson going awry.
The Bears acquired Bates from the Buffalo Bills for a 2024 fifth-round pick, which Chicago later reacquired to select defensive end Austin Booker. Bates, who was mostly a reserve in Buffalo, quickly became a leader among the linemen, but he appeared in three games due to injuries.
The Rams made it known they were looking to cut Jackson, which can sometimes lead to stagnant trade markets.
In this instance, the Bears are putting faith in Jackson’s rapport with Johnson.
They are adding an experienced, versatile player who has performed at a Pro Bowl level. It will be up to new offensive line coach Dan Roushar to get the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Jackson back to that in 2025.