Which Bears player is under the most pressure in 2024?

Several Chicago Bears players are entering the 2024 campaign under considerable pressure. For example, rookie No. 1 overall selection Caleb Williams is being touted as the quarterback savior of the franchise. Rome Odunze is expected to fill out a dominant receiving trio that includes proven commodities such as D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen.

But the player that is facing the most pressure without a doubt is starting left tackle Braxton Jones.

The No. 168 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jones surprisingly became a first-year starter as a fifth-round pick after other players failed to make the left tackle position their own. Jones played more than 1,000 snaps as a rookie blindside blocker, handling himself appropriately by earning a run-blocking grade of 79.4 from Pro Football Focus. Jones was an above average pass protector as well according to PFF, scoring a 70.5 in that department.

Darnell Wright is a strong breakout candidate for the #Bears OL, but I also think Braxton Jones has potential to tap into still.

Jones allowed 2 sacks & 2 QB hits in 11 games, as opposed to 7 sacks & 4 QB hits in 2022. If he cleans up the penalties, he’s a very valuable asset.

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 19, 2024

Jones’ surprising rookie performance made him an unquestioned starter heading into his sophomore season. Injury limited Jones to 715 snaps in 2023, but he showcased on-field development. Jones was credited with allowing just two sacks (tied for 67th in the league) after allowing seven sacks (tied for seventh-most) in 2022. Penalties were an issue, however. Jones was whistled for nine penalties, the 11th-most of any offensive tackle in the league.

Jones is now tasked with protecting the blindside of Williams, the Bears’ most important investment in franchise history. Jones has elevated himself to the territory where he’s an above-average performer that’s difficult to replace, but he’s not good enough to be considered a franchise tackle, either. Bears general manager Ryan Poles seemingly agrees. Poles drafted former Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Amegadjie is viewed as a future starter in Chicago. With Darnell Wright seemingly being a long-term solution at right tackle, it’s at left tackle, Amegadjie’s natural position coming out of Yale, that he’s eventually expected to make his home. That places significant pressure on Jones to perform this season.

Don’t get to see Kiran Amegadjie (#72) pass protect in straight dropback situations too often, but it goes how you would expect in the FCS. pic.twitter.com/JBzEbQ2W7B

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 10, 2024

Amegadjie is somewhat of a raw product coming out of a smaller program. That makes Jones’ leash a bit longer throughout training camp, the preseason, and the early portion of the 2024 regular-season campaign. But if Jones fails to meet expectations at that point, Amegadjie could turn a strong offseason into a bigger opportunity.