Chicago Bears Face Pivotal Decision at Left Tackle
The Bears enter the NFL draft with lingering questions at left tackle, where incumbent starter Braxton Jones enters his fourth season with mixed results. While the 2022 fifth-round pick has started 40 games over three seasons, his performance (allowing 14 sacks and 84 pressures per PFF) has been adequate rather than elite. First-year coach Ben Johnson offered measured support, praising Jones’ athleticism but noting needed improvements: “We’ll challenge him to gain weight for better anchor in pass protection,” Johnson told ESPN.
Jones faces added uncertainty coming off a fractured ankle that ended his 2023 season early, coupled with 2022’s neck injury. His contract year looms in 2025, intensifying the stakes. GM Ryan Poles has openly invited competition, potentially through the draft (where prospects like Will Campbell could tempt Chicago) or via third-round 2024 pick Kiran Amegadjie’s development.
Amegadjie endured a brutal debut start (4 penalties, 1 sack allowed) when injuries forced him into Week 15 action, but coaches remain optimistic. “He was thrust into tough situations,” Johnson noted, emphasizing the Yale product’s raw tools. With both tackles rehabbing (Jones from ankle surgery, Amegadjie from early-season injuries) and the draft approaching, Chicago’s OT battle could define their offensive trajectory.
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