Beefing up the offensive line this offseason was a high priority for the Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles. They didn’t waste much time in doing so, trading for a pair of experienced guards and signing the top center on the market.

Back in March, the Bears traded for Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams and Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs. Less than a week later, they agreed to a deal with former Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman. While Jackson and Dalman are under contract for the next few seasons, Thuney is set to be a free agent in 2026. Many expect the Bears to ink the perennial All-Pro guard to an extension, but will it come to fruition?

Poles weighed in on the topic on Thursday when asked on ESPN 1000’s Kap & J-Hood show about when a deal can be expected, and he’s fairly optimistic about getting something done sooner rather than later. “I would hope it’s not too long,” Poles said. “As I said the other day, it’s a priority. I have a great relationship with Joe, as well as Mike McCartney, his agent. We’ll have conversations and see what makes sense for both sides. I love Joe; I love what he brings. I know he’s excited to be here, so we’ll see if we can work something out in the near future.”

Though Thuney is 32 years old and the Bears were able to acquire him for only a 2026 fourth-round pick, it’s encouraging to hear Poles isn’t viewing him as a one-year rental. Thuney still plays at a high level and is one of the best guards in the league. He also brings a winning mentality, having won four Super Bowl championships throughout his career. Having someone like him on the team for the next few seasons would go a long way towards the development of not only quarterback Caleb Williams, but the offense as a whole.

Time will tell when or if the two sides can come together on a deal, but the way Poles is talking, the hope is that this will not drag out too long. It sounds like Thuney, Dalman, and Jackson will be around for at least a couple of seasons.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles provides update on possible Joe Thuney extension