Bears' Plan B offensive line options with Trey Smith off the market

No player took more reps at the Senior Bowl this year than North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel.

NFL teams wanted to see him in different positions across the line and defensive linemen wanted to face him.

Why? Because he was that darn good.

It was an awesome week, Zabel said during the NFL combine last week in Indianapolis.

Just getting back in pads and playing football again was a great feeling.

The opportunity to go down to an all-star game, compete against high-level competition and showcase who I am as a player was really valuable.

The Senior Bowl does a great job of setting up a competitive environment, and I feel like I had a pretty good week down there.

Advertisement Zabel then had a good showing at the combine, though he didnt run.

He posted a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump to lead all offensive linemen.

It was the third-highest vertical jump by an offensive lineman since 2003.

Zabel should be among the Bears options to fix the interior of their offensive line after the Kansas City Chiefs placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on guard Trey Smith.

The Bears left Indianapolis with more information about free agency and the best draft prospects up front.

They need three new starters in the middle of their line.

When it comes to fixing the Bears offensive line, here are 10 interior options a mix of free agents and draft prospects for the organization to consider.

The free agents Aaron Banks, guard The 49ers drafted Banks out of Notre Dame with the 48th pick in 2021.

The Bears took Teven Jenkins at No.

39 that year.

Both players just finished their rookie contracts.

Similar to Jenkins, Banks has dealt with injuries during his career.

He suffered a season-ending MCL injury on Dec.

23 against the Miami Dolphins.

According to TruMedia, which tracks data from Pro Football Focus, Banks has allowed just two sacks and 14 QB hits over the past three seasons, including 43 starts.

Jenkins has allowed nine sacks and four QB hits in those same three seasons, which includes 36 starts.

Mekhi Becton, guard Becton, whom the Jets selected with the No.

11 pick in 2020, found the right place to revive his career after missing the entire 2022 season with an avulsion fracture in his right knee cap.

He signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Eagles and then went on to start 15 games in the regular season and four more in the postseason at guard for the eventual Super Bowl champions.

Interested teams would have to figure out how much of Bectons success with the Eagles should be attributed to him playing between center Cam Jurgens and right tackle Lane Johnson.

Mekhi Becton clearing ALL the space with this block pic.twitter.com/OYYLrwXcaC NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025 Drew Dalman, center During an appearance on Pardon My Take at the combine, new Bears coach Ben Johnson highlighted the importance of addressing the center position this offseason.

Its less about me and its more about the quarterback, Johnson said.

With Caleb (Williams) being a second-year player and everything that entails, I thought he had a productive first year in terms of exposure to a lot of things that can go on.

To help him out the most here going forward, I do think we need a strong presence at center (a) smart player that can help set the table from a run game and pass protection perspective.

Advertisement Dalman is the best center on the free-agent market.

If general manager Ryan Poles is going to be as aggressive as he said he could be at the combine, going after Dalman would be it.

Frank Ragnow signed a four-year, $54 million contract last year with the Lions.

His $13.5 annual average trails that of Chiefs center Creed Humphrey ($18 million).

As always, there is risk involved with free-agent signings.

An ankle injury kept Dalman out of eight games last season with the Falcons, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021.

Will Fries, guard Signing Fries would require more projection than Dalman.

Its a riskier move because he started only five games and played 258 snaps last season for the Colts.

Fries was placed on injured reserve on Oct.

7 after suffering a broken tibia in Week 5 against the Jaguars.

Before that, Fries looked like a promising young player for the Colts, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2021.

If Indianapolis doesnt want to re-sign him, you have to wonder why.

The Colts have more information on Fries than other teams.

GO DEEPER What we heard about Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams and Bears' spending plan at the combine Kevin Zeitler, guard If the Bears are looking for a safe, affordable option who could mentor a young player taken later in the draft, Zeitler could be the perfect fit.

A year after earning Pro Bowl honors with the Ravens, Zeitler started every game last season for the Lions, who signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract.

The Bears signing Zeitler, who turns 35 on Saturday, almost makes too much sense because of his connections to Johnson.

He allowed five sacks and five QB hits last season for the Lions.

The Bengals drafted Zeitler in the first round at No.

27 in 2012.

The draft prospects Tyler Booker, Alabama, guard Heading into the combine, Booker (6-foot-5, 321 pounds) was Dane Bruglers 18th best prospect in his top 100 rankings .

Brugler also had the Bears taking Booker in his most recent mock draft.

Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout, rated Booker as the 13th best in his latest top 50 rankings for NFL.com.

Advertisement Booker, though, didnt test well compared with his peers at the combine.

His unofficial relative athletic score was low.

According to Kent Lee Plante, who created the RAS metric, Booker posted an unofficial 4.01 out of 10, though some tests were projections.

Booker could be the first first-round pick with a sub-5.00 RAS score since 2019.

Bookers physical measurements at the combine were more impressive: 34 1/2-inch arms and 11-inch hands.

He would be a massive guard for the Bears.

Booker was a team captain and an All-American at Alabama.

Tyler Booker is a OG prospect in the 2025 draft class.

He scored an unofficial 4.15 #RAS out of a possible 10.00.

This ranked 933 out of 1592 OG from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.

https://t.co/x19RB2rTGe pic.twitter.com/gbS0iHYlkI Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2025 Will Campbell, LSU, guard/tackle With an arm length of 32 5/8 inches and a wing span of 77 3/8 inches, Campbell (6-6, 319 pounds) will be viewed as a guard by some organizations.

But thats OK.

The Bears should hope he falls to No.

10 because of it.

Campbell, a consensus All-American from the SEC at left tackle, would be a Day 1 starter at guard.

Unlike Booker, Campbell tested well at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds and the 10-yard split in 1.72 seconds.

He had an unofficial 9.88 RAS score.

Armand Membou, Missouri, guard/tackle In terms of athleticism, Membou (6-4, 332 pounds) is right with Campbell.

He ran the 40 in 4.91 seconds, trailing only Georgia center Jared Wilson among offensive linemen.

Membous unofficial RAS score is 9.81.

Membous total athleticism score from NFLs Gen Stats ranked first.

Right tackle Darnell Wrights final RAS score was 9.68 two years ago.

With 33 1/2-inch arms, Membou surpassed the threshold some teams look at for tackles, but other projections have him moving to guard because hes only 6-4.

Either way, Membou looks like a high-end prospect who should be available at No.

10.

He played right tackle at Missouri, so if the Bears selected him, that could result in a position switch with Wright in place.

GO DEEPER How Bears can take advantage of deep D-line draft class to bolster pass rush Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona, guard/tackle The Bears will need options in the second round with the 39th and 41st selections.

After the combine, Savaiinaea (6-4, 324 pounds) could be one.

He ran the 40 in 4.95 seconds, trailing only Wilson and Membou.

He ran the 10-yard split in 1.72 seconds, matching Campbells time.

He had an unofficial RAS score of 9.12.

Savaiinaea, who played left and right tackle in his final season in college, took snaps at guard at the Senior Bowl.

Advertisement Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, guard/center Unlike Campbell, Zabel (6-6, 312 pounds) is viewed primarily as an interior lineman.

He played left tackle last year, but his arms measured at 32 inches.

If youre the Bears, youre hoping Campbell falls to No.

10, but with Zabel, youre hoping that he doesnt rise too much.

He recently rose 19 spots in Jeremiahs updated top 50 rankings.

.

@NDSUfootball @GreyZabel took more 1 on 1 reps at the @seniorbowl than any other OL...and at nearly every position.

Seemed like he won every rep #nfldraft #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/7R4XMj1cGo Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 2, 2025 Thats what happens when you stand out at the Senior Bowl, where Zabel also played center.

He talked about that position switch at the combine.

Playing center means getting all five offensive linemen on the same page, recognizing defensive tendencies and making sure everyone is in sync, Zabel said.

Defenses change week to week, so understanding their schemes and how they like to play is huge for that position.

Being vocal wouldnt be a problem, though.

I was always the kid who got in trouble for talking too much growing up, Zabel said.

Ive always been a social butterfly, so communicating on the field wont be a problem.

(Photo of Mekhi Becton: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images).

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