Bears Land All-Pro Guard Joe Thuney in Trade with Chiefs

After acquiring guard Jonah Jackson in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams yesterday, the Chicago Bears have made another significant move to strengthen their offensive line. Today, they struck a deal with the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, sending a 2026 fourth-round pick to Kansas City in exchange for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney.

Thuney, who has one year remaining on his contract, will be seeking a new deal, though it was clear that an extension wasn’t coming from the Chiefs. Kansas City recently made Creed Humphrey the highest-paid center in the NFL and placed the franchise tag on Trey Smith while working to secure him on a long-term contract. With significant financial resources already allocated to the interior offensive line, retaining the soon-to-be 33-year-old Thuney didn’t align with their long-term plans.

While Thuney could have contributed significantly to another Super Bowl push, the Chiefs prioritized getting younger and freeing up cap space. By moving him now, they secured better compensation than they likely would have received through a compensatory pick in 2027 if he left in free agency next year. The success of this trade will largely depend on whether former second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia can step in and perform well at guard. If he proves to be at least serviceable, the Chiefs will look smart; if he struggles, the decision to move on from Thuney may face scrutiny.

For the Bears, this trade underscores their commitment to protecting Caleb Williams. Chicago fielded one of the worst offensive lines last season, and they are working aggressively to ensure their former first-overall pick has the protection he needs. Despite his age, Thuney remains one of the league’s top guards and brings additional versatility, having played tackle for the Chiefs in 2023. The Bears are unlikely to stop here, before Smith was tagged, they were expected to be in the mix for his services. Now that both guard positions are set, attention may shift to Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman.

With these holes being addressed before free agency, speculation is growing that the Bears could target Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the 10th overall pick. The move would make sense, given new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s preference for a two-running back system, as seen in Detroit with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. However, it is also possible that the Bears wait until the later rounds to add a running back to pair with D’Andre Swift, given the depth of this year’s running back class.

Offensive tackle prospects Will Campbell (LSU), Armand Membou (Missouri), and Kelvin Banks (Texas) could be in play, depending on Chicago’s confidence in Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones.

Pass rusher prospects Mykel Williams (Georgia) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) could be strong options to pair with Montez Sweat, helping Chicago improve a pass rush that ranked middle-of-the-pack in sacks last season. Mason Graham (Michigan), a dominant run-stopping defensive tackle, could also be fit, while versatile linebackers Jalon Walker (Georgia) and Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) offer additional defensive flexibility.

Cornerback prospects Will Johnson (Michigan) and Jahdae Barron (Texas) could also be considerations if Chicago looks to improve its secondary. While the Bears already have Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson, adding another high-end defensive back could further strengthen the unit.

With their guard positions now solidified, the Bears are well-positioned to address other key needs in the draft, whether that be offensive tackle, pass rush, or secondary help. Their recent moves suggest an aggressive approach to building a competitive roster around their young quarterback, and all eyes will be on how they continue to shape their team in the coming months.