The Chicago Bears' starting center competition will be one of the more interesting battles to follow throughout the offseason. While Logan Jones could eventually challenge for the job, it is clear that Garrett Bradbury is the current starter, and head coach Ben Johnson appears completely comfortable with that arrangement. Johnson recently noted that he was impressed by Bradbury's communication and leadership during OTA practices.
The Chicago Bears are happy with Garrett Bradbury at OTAs
The Bears had to pivot quickly when Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired. With that in mind, they did a solid job addressing the position by bringing in both Bradbury and Jones. Bradbury was the first addition, arriving via trade, and his experience immediately made him the favorite to take first-team reps.
As a veteran, it makes sense that Bradbury would get the first opportunity. Still, everyone understands that Jones is part of the team's long-term plans after being selected in the second round. The Bears would eventually like to see Jones develop into the starter, and the sooner he is ready, the sooner they can begin building around him.
For now, though, Bradbury is making it clear that he is not going to hand over the job easily. Bradbury has 105 career starts under his belt and brings plenty of experience to the position. He spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, working through multiple coaching and offensive coordinator changes during that time.
Last season, Bradbury joined New England and helped anchor the offensive line during a season that ended with an AFC Championship appearance and a Super Bowl loss. The transition showed that he could move to a new team and quickly establish himself as a leader and starting-caliber player.
That experience should benefit the Bears. Bradbury worked closely with Drake Maye, another young quarterback, and now he has an opportunity to help Caleb Williams continue his development. Johnson's comments suggest that Bradbury's leadership and communication skills have already made a positive impression.
At the same time, the Patriots moved on for a reason. Bradbury remains a smart and experienced center, but questions about his size and ability to consistently hold up against power in the trenches have followed him throughout his career.
That is where Jones becomes important. The Bears can lean on Bradbury's experience and leadership while giving Jones time to adjust to the NFL. If Jones is not ready right away, Bradbury gives them a reliable option. If Jones develops quickly, the team has a succession plan already in place.
For now, Bradbury appears firmly in control of the starting center job. However, the long-term outlook still points toward Jones eventually taking over. Until then, the Bears seem more than happy to have Bradbury leading the offensive line and helping guide the offense through the early stages of the offseason
| More Bears News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google