The Chicago Bears' offensive line is making headlines for all the right reasons, and the numbers back it up. ESPN analyst Mike Clay recently released his comprehensive rankings of every starting offensive lineman in the NFL, and when the dust settled, the Bears came away with the third-best unit in the entire league—trailing only the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles.

This is a massive turnaround for a team that has long struggled in the trenches. In 2025, a much-improved offensive front was a key driver of the Bears' offensive resurgence, and now the rest of the league is taking notice.

Clay graded each starter on a scale where 5.0 represents an average starting offensive lineman. Impressively, every single Bears starter received an above-average grade. That puts Chicago in an elite club: one of just four teams in the NFL with above-average starters at every position along the line.

Here's a quick look at how each Bears lineman stacks up against the competition at their respective positions:

While Braxton Jones and Ryan Bradbury rank in the bottom half among their positional peers, it's important to note that Clay's overall grade measures effectiveness across all offensive linemen, not just those at the same spot. So a score above 5.0 still means they're performing slightly better than the league average—a solid foundation for any offense.

The standout star of the group is left guard Joe Thuney, who rightfully leads all left guards after winning the inaugural NFL Protector of the Year award. His dominance in the trenches is a huge reason why the Bears' offense has found its rhythm. Darnell Wright also deserves a mention, though some might argue he's ranked a bit low after earning second-team All-Pro honors last season. On the flip side, some analysts question whether Jones is ranked a touch too high, given he's coming off a season-ending injury and a benching in 2025.

Looking deeper into the numbers, the Bears were one of just six teams to place three linemen in the top 35 of PFSN's OL Impact Scoring among 220 qualified offensive linemen. That's a testament to the depth and talent of this unit. One of those top performers was Drew Dalman, who finished 13th among centers with an 83.8 score—though he recently retired. Not to worry, as Bradbury wasn't far behind with an 80.4 score, ensuring the Bears remain strong at the pivot.

For Bears fans and NFL observers alike, this offensive line is no longer a weakness—it's a legitimate strength. And with the right protection, the sky's the limit for Chicago's offense in 2026.