The Bears made major investments on their offensive line by trading for Chiefs guard Joe Thuney and Rams guard Jonah Jackson, but that wasn’t their plan as they approached free agency.
General manager Ryan Poles said Wednesday he didn’t anticipate Thuney or Jackson being available for trades during personnel meetings to prepare for free agency. Once the Bears were informed they could get them, Poles didn’t hesitate.
One big factor in the acquisitions was that Poles and coach Ben Johnson are “very familiar” with each of them. Poles was on the Chiefs when they signed Thuney as a free agent, while Johnson coached Jackson with the Lions.