Ryan Poles appears safe for the time being. Whether it remains that way a few weeks from now is undetermined. Until then, the Chicago Bears GM must continue preparations for what will easily be the most consequential off-season of his career. Not only must he find a quality head coach to turn the team around, but he must also fix multiple areas on the roster that have been problematic all season. None more so than the offensive line. One could make a legitimate case that four of the five current starters need replacing. Doing that in one off-season will be difficult. It means Poles can’t afford to miss on whoever he targets.
While the 2025 draft class isn’t rich in star-caliber prospects, it has plenty of legitimate talent. Will Campbell of LSU and Kelvin Banks of Texas are getting the most attention. However, they aren’t the ones who have the Bears GM’s attention. According to a source, that honor belongs to Donovan Jackson. The Ohio State guard is considered one of the best interior offensive line prospects in the class. Upon an overview of what he brings to the table, it isn’t surprising that Poles likes him.
One thing we’ve learned about this GM is that he loves players who have size, length, and athleticism. Jackson is proficient in all three at 6’4 “, 320 lbs. He operates well in space, showing an ability to get to the second level, and is dangerous as a pulling guard. His power base is plenty good enough in the run game, and he doesn’t lack a finisher mentality. His pass protection is solid, though it could use some additional polish. He is somebody who can start immediately but still has plenty of room to grow.
Ryan Poles isn’t naive. He understands the task ahead of him. If he’s going to get Caleb Williams to ascend, it starts up front. The resources thrown at the offensive line this off-season will be considerable. Maybe the Bears’ 1st and one of their 2nd round picks. Perhaps they could add a high-priced free agent as well. No expense is too great to ensure the security of your quarterback. If Jackson is one of those pieces, the team will have taken a step in the right direction.
