Bringing Ben Johnson over was certainly a big win for the Bears. The former Lions OC was among the most sought-after coaches this season, and the Bears’ decision to get him was commendable. Well, what now? The Bears’ next step will be to get the best possible team for Johnson to work with. And the one position they really need to fill is offensive tackle? Well, for that, an NFL veteran has an interesting suggestion for them.

There is speculation that Will Campbell is the Bears’ No. 1 target for the upcoming season. But, if that’s not the case, Clay Harbor believes Kelvin Banks Jr. should be the way to go for Johnson and Co. Harbor shared his thoughts on X as he wrote, “If the Bears wanted an OT and Will Campbell is gone I do like Kelvin Banks. He’s had 1,544 pass-blocking snaps in his career he’s given up 4 sacks and 4 hits TOTAL. He’s very durable 42 games at LT in 3 seasons. Worse case he’s a great OG prospect. Thoughts on Banks?”

It’s not a bad suggestion by any means, is it? Banks Jr. is highly rated and will be amongst the top prospects for the 2025 NFL draft. On the other hand, the Bears don’t hold a great draft pick and really need someone on their offensive line, especially someone who can protect their QB. Especially with Caleb Williams, it was quite evident that the rookie QB needs someone in the OL to protect him (he had 68 sacks last season) and Banks Jr can certainly do that.

Interestingly though, Banks Jr will be the second choice for the Bears as of now. As predicted by many, the ‘dream offseason’ for Bears and Williams will be getting Will Campbell. Campbell is currently the lineman everyone will be looking at in the 2025 NFL draft. The LSU offensive tackle has just been amazing and the Bears would definitely want to get him. The LSU player has the ideal physicality for his position, has proved himself for his team, and certainly looks like someone who can be a long-term mainstay for any team that signs him. It will be interesting to see who the Bears go after in the draft.

Who else can Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears sign?

It is quite evident that the Bears need someone to bolster their offensive line. The thing though is while Banks Jr and Campbell both will be great choices for that role, will they be available in the draft till the Bears get their pick? Both these young athletes are going to be in high demand and might be the case that the Bears don’t even get an option to pick them. What then can Ben Johnson do? Well, they can certainly look towards the Kansas City Chiefs.

If reports are to be believed, the Bears are looking to get Chiefs guard Trey Smith into the mix. It seems like the Bears are getting ready to offer Smith a 5-year, $105 million deal. While this is clearly a big amount, the 25-year-old has shown what he is capable of and many teams would be willing to pay a similar amount for the Chief’s man. The Bears then shouldn’t be holding back now and look to close the deal as soon as possible.

The Chiefs just have a $3.2 million cap, and if they don’t franchise Smith, they will not be able to keep him. This gives the Bears a great opportunity to sign one of the best players in the league.

Seems like the Bears have a crucial offseason ahead as they work to build a strong team around Williams. Strengthening their offensive line is a top priority, and whether they land Campbell, Banks Jr., or Smith, they need to act fast to secure the best talent available. With these potential moves, the Bears and Johnson have a real opportunity to take a big step forward next season.