[Trending News] Trey Smith Watch: Bears Viewed As “Best Fit” For Free Agent Pro Bowl Guard

In case you missed it, there is a new report that Kansas City Chiefs stud offensive lineman Trey Smith will *NOT* be given the Franchise Tag. So unless Smith and the Chiefs iron out an extension deal between now and the start of free agency, the Pro Bowl right guard will hit the market. This is excellent timing for a team like the Chicago Bears. Because not only does the team have a gaping hole at the position in which Smith plays, but they also have a ton of money to spend.

No wonder one ESPN analyst has already deemed the Bears and Trey Smith a great fit.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen shared his list of the 50 best free agents heading into the 2025 NFL offseason. Here, Trey Smith ranks No. 2 behind only Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The only thing better than Smith being identified as the best free agent at a clear position of need for the Bears is that the team has been pegged as the best team fit for the talented offensive lineman.

This is what Bowen had to say about Trey Smith and the Chicago Bears:

The top interior lineman on the market, Smith would upgrade a critical position of need in Chicago. Smith is a powerful mover in the run game, as his run block win rate of 75.1% ranked sixth among guards. Plus, he has the foot speed to mirror interior defenders and the strength at 6-6 and 321 pounds to anchor against bull rushes. Bears general manager Ryan Poles could make a splash move to rebuild the front for Ben Johnson’s new offense. The Bears allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, so this area has to be addressed.

I couldn’t have said it better myself, Matt.

Trey Smith leads the list of the best available free-agent offensive linemen

Trey Smith isn’t the only high-profile offensive lineman on the cusp of hitting free agency. Here are the others who check in among Matt Bowen’s 50 best free agents (overall ranking in parenthesis):

• Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle (3rd)
• Cam Robinson, offensive tackle (15th)
• Will Fries, guard (18th)
• Zack Martin, guard (20th)
• Drew Dalman, center (26th)
• Mekhi Becton, guard (29th)
• Kevin Zeitler, guard (35th)
• James Daniels, guard (38th)
• Alaric Jackson, offensive tackle (40th)
• Teven Jenkins, guard (41st)
• Ryan Kelly, center (45th)

MORE: Top 5 Chicago Bears Free Agent Targets

There are some familiar faces on the list above. We can start with James Daniels, a 2018 second-round pick by the Bears who was a four-year starter in Chicago before leaving for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In hindsight, this regime missed the boat on Daniels and I hope letting him walk away for nothing only to see the failed Lucas Patrick and Nate Davis experiments that came in after his departure sticks in their craw. Teven Jenkins also makes the top 50 list. Jenkins was a quality offensive guard when he was healthy. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been healthy long enough to be the type of impact player he could be. Hence, the two sides are headed for a split.

The other notable name Bowen connects to the Bears is Drew Dalman, a center who is the No. 26 overall free agent on the list. Bowen matches Dalman with Chicago’s football team for obvious reasons. The Bears need a center, Dalman is a good one, and seems to be an ideal fit for what Chicago’s offense is supposed to be under Ben Johnson’s leadership as the team’s new head coach. Yes, Drew Dalman missed some time due to an ankle injury last year. But if the Bears can team him with Trey Smith, then they shouldn’t hesitate to do so.