Inside How Ryan Poles Beat the Market, The Secret Behind Geno Smith's Raiders Fit | 4 Downs

The New NFL League Year is Upon Us, and Big Moves Are Already Happening

Ready, set, tamper!

The NFL free agent frenzy is about to begin, with the legal tampering period kicking off at noon today.

By 12:01, there will be a flurry of deals announced, likely agreed to during the illegal wink, wink, nod tampering period during the NFL Combine last week in Indianapolis.

Inside this column: The hidden upside of the Seahawks’ trade for Geno Smith, the best fits for the top offensive free agents, grading the biggest moves already made, and much more!

First Down: Bears Aggressiveness Plugs Holes, Creates Optionality

Ryan Poles missed out on the chance to sign Trey Smith, expected to be the premier offensive guard in free agency, and in two fell swoops might have already solved the Chicago Bears’ biggest offseason need.

Last week, in a pair of trades, Poles landed offensive guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney to drop into an offensive line that desperately needed an upgrade in front of former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams.

By beating the market to the punch, Poles secured a four-time Super Bowl champion and two-time First-Team All-Pro in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2026. They also secured a former Pro Bowl guard with ties to head coach Ben Johnson for a mere sixth-round pick in this April’s draft.

There’s an argument to be made that Thuney’s prowess and big-game experience combined with Jackson’s steadiness not only are far more than Chicago could have reasonably expected to net from either of the picks dealt away to the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, but more than any of the top offensive line prospects are assured to give this upcoming season.

Thuney not only performed admirably when asked to kick out to right tackle late last season, but he also had one of the most dominant performances of any guard across the league in 2024.

According to Pro Football Focus, Thuney didn’t allow a single sack all season, while surrendering just six quarterback hits, on his way to finishing as the outlet’s No. 12 ranked guard in the NFL.

Poles, I’m told, prioritized adding Thuney in recent weeks and didn’t waste any time trying to pull off a trade.

“Teams realized that Kansas City had the highest paid center and right guard in the league with no offensive tackles, and started inquiring,” a league source with knowledge of the trade discussions tells me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely. “I have to think that Brett Veach and Ryan Poles’ relationship helped a ton.”

Poles came up through the Chiefs’ organization and there is a strong mutual respect between the pair of general managers.

Even at age 32, Thuney is a cornerstone caliber player along an offensive line that the Bears are betting big will significantly improve come September.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s three years of experience playing under Johnson in Detroit adds some continuity, but even that pales in comparison to his value coming off a season in which he didn’t allow a sack and surrendered just two quarterback hits in the two games he played before suffering a season-ending injury.

If Jackson is healthy, adding him and Thuney along the interior could be transformational for a line that allowed 68 sacks last season for an offense hoping to break out under Johnson’s tutelage.

Now, with two guards in tow, Poles and the Bears are no longer forced to draft for need.

If one of the premier offensive tackles is on the board at No. 10 overall, perhaps they’ll be holding up a Bears jersey alongside Roger Goodell in the shadow of Lambeau Field.

However, the conversation about selecting a playmaker such as Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, or Penn State’s Tyler Warren, or an elite defender such as Michigan cornerback Will Johnson or Georgia game-wrecker Jalon Walker become much more difficult and compelling if they are available thanks to Poles’ trades to upgrade the offensive line.

With Thuney’s championship pedigree and Jackson’s familiarity with Johnson’s scheme, the Bears have swiftly reshaped the interior of their offensive line. If both play to their potential, Chicago might have pulled off one of the most impactful offseason upgrades in the league—before free agency even truly began.

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