The Chicago Bears have found their new center ahead of the start of free agency. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears are trading for New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury. Chicago is sending a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England in return, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move comes after the shocking retirement of Drew Dalman, 27, after five NFL seasons earlier this week. Dalman had signed a three-year, $42 million contract and played just one year with the Bears before informing the team he was retiring.
Bradbury is due to make $4.7 million in 2026, which is the final season of his two-year, $9.5 million deal he signed with the Patriots last offseason.
There were reports that Chicago was showing interest in free-agent-to-be Tyler Linderbaum, who’s expected to be in high demand and become the league’s highest-paid center. This doesn’t necessarily take the Bears out of the Linderbaum sweepstakes as Bradbury is a cheap option who provides depth and could be Plan B should the team not land Linderbaum next week.
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