The start of free agency is an exciting time for fans as players are flying all around the league, changing teams, and providing hope for all. The fact of the matter is that buying high in free agency does not always correlate to success.
With that being said, there are definitely upgrades to be made on a roster from signing free agents. This is even more the case when you have a team with a promising quarterback on a rookie deal, which is exactly what the Bears have.
After trading for two guards last week in Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, the Bears were still viewed as a team that could be aggressive in free agency due to their favorable cap situation and the holes they still needed to plug on their roster.
The Bears made three big moves on day one. Let's check them out and grade each of them.
1. Drew Dalman, C (3-years, $42M)
Dalman was the best center available and was arguably the biggest need for the Bears. The fact that they were able to sign him and not truly break the bank is a huge win for the team. It was also later reported that Dalman turned down more money elsewhere to sign with the Bears. When was the last time that sentence rang true?
The Bears have completely overhauled their interior offensive line with this move and should give Caleb Williams some stability for the next few years. Dalman was PFF's fourth-ranked center overall and is still just 26 years old. He is a better run-blocker than a pass-blocker, but he is no slouch in either category. Ben Johnson knew this team would need a true cornerstone in the middle after having Frank Ragnow in Detroit, so now he gets his guy.
Dalman brings much-needed experience to the offensive line and support to Caleb Williams when it comes to deciphering defensive fronts. There was a ton of smoke about this deal leading up to the start of free agency, and Ryan Poles and the Bears created fire.