The Chicago Bears’ offensive line is still a work in progress.
Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman’s surprise retirement and left tackle Ozzy Trapilo’s injury have put the Bears in an unenviable position. Because not only does the team need to plug some notable holes on defense, it also has to do so on the offensive side of the trenches. The good news is that the front office has already begun filling in the gaps via trade and in free agency. But the better news is that the NFL Draft could provide yet another avenue for improvement.
Before we start looking at particular prospects, I feel as if it would benefit us to have a better understanding of what the team is looking for at certain positions. Considering the team’s long-term need at the center position, it makes sense to begin this exercise here. And it would certainly benefit us to figure out what Ben Johnson wants from a player at the position.
Thankfully, the Bears’ head coach gave us an inkling while discussing the Garrett Bradbury trade via the team’s official website:
“[Bradbury] had a lot of success last year; made it to the Super Bowl. Very cerebral player. Joe Thuney knows him really well, so there’s some natural chemistry that I think we’re going to have on the inside.
“He’s going to fit what we like to do in the run game with our wide zone, running off the football. And when we watched him, we felt really good about what he did in pass pro as well. I think he’s going to be really what the doctor ordered for us in terms of [replacing] a guy like Drew. He had a Pro Bowl season and played really, really well, and yet we feel like Garrett is going to fit us really well also.”
Ben Johnson giving us a glimpse at what Garrett Bradbury brings to the table, while also laying out what he values about the new guy, makes me feel like the Bears head coach already has eyes on what a long-term replacement could look like in Chicago.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesIt sounds like the Bears’ head coach wants a center who can be an anchor in the ground game, which makes sense when you think about how important the running game is to Chicago’s offense. So much of it feeds off the threat of play action, which is fueled by strong play in the trenches and a willingness to run the ball. Johnson’s offense had both of those things last year, which helped lead to a breakout campaign for quarterback Caleb Williams.
All things considered, I can’t imagine the Bears not going above and beyond in their due diligence at this position. It just seems too important to the coach’s scheme to plug with one-year stop-gap options. This isn’t to say that it can’t happen. However, I will say that it doesn’t seem like an ideal way to build sustained success along the offensive line.
Search for new Bears center could become a family affair
Chicago’s football team has already been connected to a pair of center prospects who could go early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kansas State’s Sam Hecht stands out, especially since he got familiar with Bears coaches during the school’s pro day event. The team was also out at Oklahoma’s pro day, where interior offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu stands out as someone who could make sense as a long-term center fit who could be taken on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
But if the Bears want to roll the dice on a Day 3 option, they could make this ordeal a family affair:
Former Miami center James Brockermeyer recently visited the Titans and will visit the Bears later this week, per source. The son of former NFL tackle Blake Brockermeyer, James helped himself with a standout week at the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/LPDJ0nnmLR
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 30, 2026Olin Kreutz watching his son, #illini center Josh Kreutz, rep out 32 reps of 225 on the bench. pic.twitter.com/LYr3ERi1hS
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) March 12, 2026A nugget from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero (via Twitter/X) from earlier in the week, who reported that former University of Miami center James Brockermeyer was set to visit the Bears at some point this week. If that name sounds familiar, it might be because James’ father, Blake, played 46 games (made 45 starts, too!) for the Bears from 1999 until 2001.
James Brockermeyer was a well-traveled college football player, suiting up for the Alabama Crimson Tide (20221-23), TCU Horned Frogs (2024), and Miami Hurricanes (2025). His best season on campus came while with Miami, where he earned All-American honors from CBS Sports and third-team All-ACC recognition for the Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Josh Kreutz is another center prospect with family ties who could intrigue the Bears as a Day 3 prospect. Kreutz has ample starting experience (37 games at center since the start of the 2023 season) from his time at the University of Illinois and garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention honors for his efforts. The son of Bears legend Olin Kreutz, Josh would have mighty big shoes to fill if he landed in Chicago. And while he might not be my favorite center prospect, I can’t ignore a player with his familial pedigree having a successful three-year run as a center in the Big Ten.
To be clear, I am not banging the table for the Bears to draft either of the offensive linemen mentioned above. However, I think it would be smart for this front office to try to replicate the process that led them to draft Luke Newman last spring. I thought the team did well to draft the Michigan State product, who appeared in nine games (even played 25 offensive snaps) last year. After watching Bears GM Ryan Poles use Day 3 capital to trade for short-term depth options in the past, I could get used to this front office drafting and developing offensive linemen.
Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) prepares to throw a pass and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo (75) blocks against Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn ImagesCHECK OUT THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Hence then, the article about i don t think the bears are done addressing the center position was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( I Don’t Think the Bears Are Done Addressing the Center Position )
Also on site :
- Audi’s first reality check: No short-term fix for one costly weakness
- Derek Chisora arrives in tank with Nigel Farage for Deontay Wilder press conference
- Which NCAA Men’s Teams Had The Most Points From International Athletes?