The Bears have completed a substantial overhaul of their iOL in record time.
Everyone who watched the Chicago Bears last season knew their interior offensive line was one of the absolute worst in all of football. To make matters worse, all three of their primary starters from left to right guard are free agents. A complete cleansing and retooling of the interior under offensive line coach Dan Roushar’s watchful eye was inevitable.
Efforts towards rebuilding the interior are already underway with trades for former Pro Bowler Jonah Jackson and 2x All-Pro Joe Thuney being struck before the new league year even began. This latest splash signing completes the overhaul in stunning fashion. They finally have their man at center.
Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic the Bears are signing former Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman. The deal is for 3-years, $42M total, with $28M guaranteed at signing.
The Bears are signing C Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal with $28 million guaranteed.
— Dianna Russini (@diannarussini.bsky.social) 2025-03-10T16:19:31.567Z
Many people believe Center was the single most important position of need for Chicago this off-season. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson made this statement just over a week ago.
Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson on what will help Caleb Williams most in his second year: “To help him out the most going forward, I do think we need a strong presence at center.”
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) February 26, 2025
Drew Dalhman was considered by many as the single best long-term option at center available for the 2025 free agency class. For the PFF stans, he was ranked 4th overall among centers with a 78.8 grade earned. For everyone else, when you watch the film, it was clear Drew Dalman has earned his big payday. In all he has started 40 out of a possible 57 career games.
Center has been an issue for Chicago for the better part of a decade now. We’ve grown accustomed to seeing cheap one-year rentals and the occasional late round draft picks in an effort to patch the hole on this dud tire instead of replacing it outright. The arrival of the 26-year old Drew Dalman effectively ends those days. Provided everything goes as planned, the Bears’ long-term solution at center is now under contract. And I am certain Caleb Williams appreciates that.
With the starting interior now set for the 2025 season, we might see competition added at LT soon. GM Ryan Poles mentioned that possibility in his pre-free agency presser at the 2025 Scouting Combine just over a week ago. That could also wait until the draft later this spring.