RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesEarly on during the 2026 offseason, the Chicago Bears had their roster take a hit that was unexpected. One year into a three-year $42 million contract, Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from the NFL at just 27 years old.
At that point, the Bears had to scramble to come up with a plan for the position in 2026 and beyond. Chicago made a move to acquire Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots, in exchange for a fifth-round pick, after a handful of years with the Minnesota Vikings, who took him 18th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Bears also drafted Logan Jones out of Iowa with a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. On the depth chart entering training camp, he is the No. 2 guy behind Bradbury.
With that said, Jones will be given every opportunity to prove himself during camp and the preseason. He may be coming in as the backup, but it’s a job that is up for grabs if he can take it. In the past, we’ve seen offensive linemen come in and steal jobs only never to give them back. Jones has a unique opportunity to make that happen.
Is it likely that the Bears have Jones as their starting center in Week 1? Probably not. Bradbury has multiple years of experience under his belt in the pros, and he has a good understanding how to play with a young quarterback after working with Drake Maye last season. However, if Jones works well throughout the season, he's next in line to take the job.
There have been star centers in NFL history who came in one year as a young backup before taking the reins for half a decade or more. Head coach Ben Johnson and his staff are all about developing players the right way, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and that seems to be the plan for Jones. Of all the players fighting for a starting job entering August, Jones is amongst the most interesting.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Can Bears rookie Logan Jones steal starting job from Garrett Bradbury?
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