The Rams have agreed to trade offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round pick in April’s NFL draft, a source confirmed Tuesday.
With the Bears taking on all of the money on Jackson’s contract for the next two seasons, the Rams clear up $3.3 million in cap space for 2025 with the move, which cannot be completed until the start of the league year on March 12.
Jackson was the Rams’ marquee free-agent acquisition a year ago, agreeing to a three-year contract in the opening hours of the legal tampering period. He was part of a vision to build around the team’s offensive line, with him expected to play left guard while moving Steve Avila inside to center.
But Jackson’s season was derailed by injuries before it could ever truly begin. He was sidelined for most of OTAs and minicamp as he recovered from injuries suffered in 2023 while with the Lions. Then he injured his shoulder during the first week of training camp and missed several weeks of practices.
Once he returned to the field, the Rams abandoned their original plans and moved Jackson to center and Avila back to left guard. Jackson started the first two games before reaggravating his shoulder injury and going on injured reserve.
In his absence, rookie Beaux Limmer took over at center and proved himself to be a capable lineman. So when Jackson struggled in his first game back from IR, the Rams opted to bench him in favor of Limmer for the rest of the season.
“All he was willing to do is whatever was asked of him,” head coach Sean McVay said of Jackson in Week 18. “It’s really my fault for not having him in a better spot to be able to contribute. I just couldn’t be more impressed.”
Now Jackson gets a fresh start in Chicago under new head coach Ben Johnson, who was Jackson’s coordinator while with the Lions. And the Rams free up some money this year and next to add to the roster.