With Drew Dalman’s sudden retirement, the Bears drafted Iowa’s Logan Jones at No. 57 to compete for the starting center role.
The Chicago Bears moved quickly in the NFL Draft after Drew Dalman’s retirement left their offensive line with a new question mark at center.
On Friday night, they used the No. 57 pick in the second round on Iowa center Logan Jones, a decision that reflects both urgency and long-term planning for a roster still searching for consistent protection and rhythm up front.
Jones arrives with a credential that carries weight in football circles: he won the Rimington Trophy last year. awarded to the best center in college football.. For an NFL offense. that kind of recognition isn’t just a college highlight—it often suggests a player who understands the job’s technical demands. from snap timing to line calls and quick adjustments once the ball is live.
The Bears’ move makes sense because the team had already been forced into motion.. Less than two months after Dalman abruptly announced his retirement. Chicago pivoted to address the position by trading for Garrett Bradbury from the Patriots.. Bradbury is now heading into the final year of his contract. but the Bears still decided they couldn’t afford to wait—especially with Jones on the board and a draft window that doesn’t reliably repeat.
From a roster-building standpoint. Bradbury and Jones now figure to land in the same training-camp story line: competition for the starting center job.. That matters because center isn’t simply about blocking.. The position is the quarterback of the offensive line—positioning, protection schemes, and communication.. When a team isn’t settled at center. the entire unit can feel it. even when the individual linemen are talented.
Jones’ path also reads like a coach’s dream of “preparedness.” The Council Bluffs. Iowa. native was a team captain last year. and his athletic background in high school included shot put and discus. which points to the kind of strength and coordination linemen often need to handle leverage battles.. He initially went to Iowa as a defensive lineman, later moving to center.. That transition can be a meaningful indicator of how a player thinks and reacts—defensive experience sometimes helps with reading movement and understanding how opponents are trying to penetrate.
The Bears’ selection also comes at a time when the team is clearly investing in building the offensive line’s future.. Jones is entering a program with new stakes: Tyler Linderbaum. previously drafted by the Ravens. was recently recognized as the richest center in NFL history.. While the draft lottery doesn’t control contracts, it does shape the talent landscape.. Center money and value are rising leaguewide. and Chicago is signaling it wants a player who can grow into that kind of role.
Beyond the draft pick itself. there’s a practical question for Bears fans: how quickly can the new center stabilize the offense?. Training camp will be the proving ground.. If Jones wins the job. the Bears could lock in a long-term piece that influences not only protection but also how confidently the offense can call plays in high-pressure situations.. If Bradbury keeps the starting role. Jones still becomes a high-upside option—either as depth with real starter-level capability or as a potential swing point if the season tests durability or performance.
The draft night also shows Chicago wasn’t operating with tunnel vision.. The Bears entered Friday with three Day 2 selections, beginning with No.. 57, and they previously used their first-round pick at No.. 25 on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.. That combination—adding a premium center while also selecting in the defensive backfield—suggests an overall approach aimed at shoring up multiple phases rather than betting everything on one unit.
Still, the Bears’ roster needs don’t end with the center spot.. The team has continuing priorities at edge rusher, defensive tackle, cornerback, offensive tackle, and even wide receiver.. In other words. Jones may solve one major line issue. but Chicago’s larger job is to assemble enough difference-makers to protect the quarterback. sustain drives. and create defensive stops consistently.
There’s also a lighter. human moment tied to this pick: as part of a promotion for players selected at No.. 57, Jones will receive a lifetime supply of ketchup from Kraft-Heinz.. It’s not the kind of detail that changes the offensive line’s performance on Sunday. but it does capture how the NFL Draft blends spectacle with serious roster decisions—players walking into a new chapter while teams weigh immediate needs and long-term fit.
In the coming weeks. Chicago’s draft haul will be judged less by headlines and more by how the roster looks when the pads come on.. For Jones, it will be about mastering the habits and pace of the NFL center job.. For the Bears. it’s about turning a sudden retirement setback into a structured solution—one that. if it works. could make the offense feel far more coherent from the first snap of the regular season.