In this 13-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Poles make.
The Chicago Bears have been looking for a long-term answer at center since Olin Kreutz last snapped it for them in 2010. Roberto Garza took over for Kreutz and hung on for four years, but he was in his 30s when he moved over to center. Cody Whitehair had a few solid seasons at center, but even when he was racking up starts, the Bears kept trying to move him to guard. The Sam Mustipher era was forgettable.
There have been draft options in the last few years, but the only center picked in the previous eight years was a sixth-rounder in 2022.
Last year’s plan was the trade for Ryan Bates, but a training camp injury opened the door for Coleman Shelton to start the season, and then two more Bates injuries kept Shelton in the lineup all 17 weeks.
The Bears have had opportunities to draft a center in the last few years, but they elected to go with veteran stopgaps like Bates, Shelton, and Lucas Patrick.
Eventually, general manager Ryan Poles will need to spend some real money on a veteran free agent center or draft one before day three so that they can develop into a long-term answer.
Here are the Bears’ current centers.
Coleman Shelton – Free agent – Shelton probably played better than you think he did in 2024. There were some early mishaps that set the narrative for him, but he settled in and finished fairly decently. SB Nation has Shelton as their third-best center on the market, although they wonder if a reserve job is best for him.
Pro Football Focus ranks Shelton as the third-best free agent center as well.
Shelton catches flak for the occasional tough rep where he can lose to a bull rush, but over the course of the full 2024 season, he provided stability and guidance for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams while doing a lot of the work pre-snap and barely missing a play all year. For two years in a row, Shelton has almost never come off the field. He has some positional flexibility between the tackles, as well — all admirable traits in a free-agent offensive lineman.
Ryan Bates – Signed through 2025 – I’m curious to see what Ben Johnson thinks about Bates. He offers position flexibility, is only 28, and only counts $4 million on the cap, which isn’t bad for a reserve.
Doug Kramer Jr. – Restricted free agent – Kramer has bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster, so I doubt he’ll be tendered an offer. He may return, but it won’t be on an RFA deal.
Ricky Stromberg – Signed through 2025* – I would love for Stromberg, a 2023 third-round pick of the Washington Commanders, to come back from his injury and put a stranglehold on this position for the next 10 years, but that’s not something the Bears can count on. He’ll be in the mix for a roster spot, and he did play some guard during his time in Washington, so he adds some positional flexibility.
*He’ll be a restricted free agent in 2026.
2025 OUTLOOK – I could see the Bears targeting both guard openings in free agency and signing Shelton back while drafting a center. Bates could also be back in the mix at center, but we’ll have to wait and see how the new regime views his best position.
The sweet spot for the draft could be the third round, but North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel did show the ability to play center at the Senior Bowl and could be an option in the second round. As for the pure centers, Texas’ Jake Majors, Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin, Georgia’s Jared Wilson, and USC’s Jonah Monheim, who has played all five positions on the offensive line and is a former teammate of Caleb Wiliams, could be third round options.
If they do look to upgrade center in free agency, the Falcons’ Drew Dalman could reset the market, and the Colts’ Ryan Kelly would provide veteran leadership, but both are coming off 2024 injuries.
What do you think will happen at center this offseason?