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Abhinav Sharma

Bears acquire Guard Joe Thuney from Chiefs for 2026 4th-round draft pick

Chicago has traded for two offensive guards this offseason, with the Chiefs' Joe Thuney set to join Jonah Jackson at Soldier Field.

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  • Bears trade for Chiefs' All-Pro guard Joe Thuney
  • Second offensive guard after roping in Jonah Jackson from Rams
  • Chicago looking for better protection for QB Caleb Williams
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Having seen their franchise QB struggle massively in his rookie campaign, the Chicago Bears have wasted no time reinforcing their offensive line, securing two guards in as many days. On Tuesday, they shipped a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for Jonah Jackson, and by Wednesday, they struck another deal—this time landing Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapport, Chicago is parting with a 2026 fourth-round selection to acquire the four-time All-Pro.

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  • WHAT'S DOING THE ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

    Here's some of the quick reaction from around the NFL world:

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE: MORE PROTECTION FOR WILLIAMS

    The Chicago Bears are making it clear they mean business when it comes to shoring up their interior offensive line, securing a second key addition in less than a day. Just hours after acquiring Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams for a 2025 sixth-round pick, they pulled off another major move—landing Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs.

    A four-time Super Bowl champion, two-time All-Pro, and three-time Pro Bowler, Thuney arrives as part of Chicago’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the trenches under new head coach Ben Johnson. The deal also reunites the veteran lineman with general manager Ryan Poles, who previously worked with him in Kansas City.

    Set to return to his natural position on the inside, Thuney joins a retooled front that will be tasked with keeping Caleb Williams upright. The rookie quarterback endured a bruising debut campaign, suffering 68 sacks—the highest mark in the league and tied for the third-most in a single season all-time. With better protection, Williams will have a much-improved environment to grow.

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    WHY DID THE CHIEFS TRADE AWAY THUNEY?

    The Kansas City Chiefs were in need of salary cap relief as they aim to lock down Trey Smith on a long-term deal after applying the non-exclusive franchise tag on him. Joe Thuney is entering the final year of his five-year, $80 million contract, but with no guaranteed money left on the deal. He's set to earn $15.5 million in salary for 2025 while carrying a hefty $26.97 million cap hit.

    The 32-year-old primarily locked down the left guard spot for the Chiefs but was pressed into action at left tackle in 2024, logging a career-high 218 regular-season snaps at the position. His shift was necessitated by Kansas City's struggles to find a reliable option, as Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris, and D.J. Humphries all failed to secure the role.