Bears' offseason decision at center could quietly save their entire season

The Chicago Bears' center position could still be a deciding factor that derails the season. However, considering they had a surprise retirement, it is hard for the team to have found a better solution for the position. Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated wrote that the Bears' ability to pivot after Drew Dahlman retired was the most influential move of the offseason. It could propel the team into Super Bowl discussions.

The Chicago Bears' offseason decision at center could save the season

It was pretty surprising when Dahlman decided to retire. He gave the Bears time before the offseason so that they knew they needed to replace him. However, there is never a great time to replace someone who was in your plans for the future.

Being able to do it with not just one, but two legitimate options could save the season.

Center is one of the most important positions on the offense, especially for a young quarterback. A bad situation there could have impacted Caleb Williams and the entire offense. Instead, the Bears gave themselves both stability and flexibility.

Garrett Bradbury was just in the Super Bowl, snapping the ball to Drake Maye. He was not the best New England Patriots lineman, and they did not feel awful getting rid of him. However, this is a veteran with legitimate starting experience.

His floor is much higher than you would think the Bears could find as they scrambled.

Still, Bradbury is great for the here and now, but if New England moved on, it is fair to assume he has an expiration date with Chicago. That is where the drafting of Logan Jones comes in. The team took Jones in the second round, so they have real hopes of him being a starter.

He could start as early as Week 1, and Bradbury would have been a fine safety net. However, if he is not ready, there is no rush due to Bradbury. When Jones does hit his ceiling, the upside and long-term potential are much greater than anything that Bradbury can provide.

That also allows the Bears to bring Jones along at the right pace. Rather than forcing him onto the field before he is ready, they can let him earn the job while knowing they have a capable veteran in front of him.

So, the Bears found the best of both worlds. They got a short-term and a long-term replacement for a position of need. This type of move could have set back a team with Super Bowl dreams. Now, it could be season-defining in a good way.

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