Stacked? It may be the weakest position on the team, along with center. The interior line needs help. Our choices at right guard are abysmal. Praying for a miraculous improvement by the players we had last year at that position is not a plan.
I formed my opinions based on the actions taken by our front office and coaching staff this offseason, they did not believe our IOL needs a major transfusion of talent.
We had two teams that suffered from protection issues. Chicago Bears' 2024 OL was rated at #24 by PFF, and ours at #31. The solutions by the coaching staff and front office of the franchises were polar opposite.
Bears
They identified the IOL as the problem and they signed FA IOL players to improve their line.
Signed:
Drew Dalman C, 3 years, $42 million PFF 78.8
Jonah Jackson G, $12.5 mil PFF 67.5
Joe Thuney G, $35 mil PFF 79.9
Drafted:
2nd round 56th Ozzy Trapilo OT
6th round 195th Luke Newman OT
Hawks
We identify the culprits as Geno Smith, SK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett. All gone from the organization, cleansed. We didn't sign any IOL of note, but we used our 1st-round pick on a versatile 5-position lineman.
We signed:
Josh Jones OT 1 year, $4.75 million, PFF 43.2. A true low-end journeyman.
Drafted:
1st 18th Grey Zabel G
6th 192th Bryce Cabeldue OT
7th 234th Mason Richman OT
See the differences? We went to the root cause and pulled rotten teeth. The Bears? Bandaids. The two Schneiders, Macdonald, and Kubiak all have great confidence in our IOL.