The Chicago Bears made it clear from the start that the offensive line would be a focus this off-season. They traded for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney earlier this month. Now they’ve brought everything together by signing top free agent center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. The move had been rumored for a long time. It was well-known that new head coach Ben Johnson valued a veteran center to help Caleb Williams’ development. Local insiders suggested GM Ryan Poles wanted to focus on fixing the interior offensive line first. While some will say Dalman for $14 million per year is expensive, the fact is it needed to be done.
Dalman’s biggest strength is his run-blocking. His leg drive and footwork allow him to get advantageous positions with regularity. That, no doubt, is what Johnson wanted. His offense is built around a strong rushing attack. Dalman’s pass protection isn’t anything special, but he’s shown steady improvement over the past couple of seasons. A trio of him, Jackson, and Thuney is a massive upgrade over what the Bears have had for the past several years.
The Chicago Bears have opened up their options for the draft.
They no longer have to feel pressured to go offensive line in the 1st round. They are free to focus on the best player available, regardless of position. Now, this doesn’t mean they won’t go offensive line. There are some rumblings they might be looking to secure their future at left tackle. Poles said he’d be looking for competition for Braxton Jones, who is recovering from a broken leg. Will Campbell of LSU, Kelvin Banks of Texas, or Josh Simmons of Ohio State could all be options. They could also look to fortify their defensive line with a young pass rusher. They’ve needed somebody to pair with Montez Sweat for over a year. Either way, it is nice to see the Chicago Bears come into the off-season with a plan and stick to it.
