No one could have expected the Bears to be where they are earlier this offseason, shopping for centers.
The quickest route to having one capable of playing effectively in their line would appear to be free agency, although it's not an abundant supply of highly graded players. They're reportedly considering Tyler Biadasz for the job of replacing Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman, whose retirement announcement is as puzzling as it is shocking.
Perhaps it's the end of Dalman's career. His father, Chris, played only seven NFL seasons and was a starter for four before retiring in 1999.
Maybe he'll wind up like Frank Ragnow in Detroit, and realize during the season he didn't really need to retire yet. Or maybe he'll sit out a year in retirement, then make a comeback by signing with the 49ers, the team his dad played for in his seven-year career.
Drew Dalman played all 17 games this year and was great. He’s forfeiting a majority of his huge contract by retirement.
He didn’t “take a payday and dip”. He played damn good football and is taking care of himself. Sucks for the #Bears but need to acknowledge the human side.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) March 4, 2026
Who knows? Dalman wasn't injured last year, although he had been hurt in Atlanta in 2024 and missed seven games with an ankle injury and two more with an abdominal injury. None of that sounds like a career-threatening situation, and he played all 19 games last year.
Regardless, the Bears need to replace him and if they decide to go the developmental route as they did in 2025 with so many rookies playing, they could turn to the draft. Guard Luke Newman converting from guard to center might make more sense, since he knows the offense and has been working some at the position.
In the draft this year, a small number of players could be ready to step in and play in the NFL.
If they want to go local, there's a Chicago area native in this draft who played for Notre Dame. Indiana starting center Pat Coogan is from the south suburbs and played at Marist before he went to Notre Dame. Coogan is a Chicago guy through and through.
Pat Coogan (6’5 311) Indiana
+ Competitive leader
+ Good power in his hands
+ Versatility and experience at left guard and center
+ Effective hand usage
+ Football IQ
+ National champion
+ Over 2,600 snaps played
+ 84.0 pass block grade in 2025
- 4 penalties in 2024 (just 2… pic.twitter.com/JNPqSnLFrj
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) February 4, 2026
"Yeah, take a lot of pride in where I'm from. Great community," Coogan said. "My family is still there. We have a family restaurant in right along Harlem Avenue.
"Free shout out to them: Franklin's Public House, 124th and Harlem. It's really a great community. And, yeah, being, you know, 45 minutes south of downtown Chicago was always fun, you know, going up, you know, whatever, maybe visiting the city. It's really great, I think, for me, a town to be a part of."
His experience with the Irish before going to play for the national champions downstate in the transfer portal last year could make him a viable NFL candidate.
Indiana OL Pat Coogan (6-5, 310) projects a Gap/Inside Zone OC/OG (adequate laterally)
🙌 Punch on contact, anticipates stunts & blitzes well
🤼 Always love when an IOL wrestled in HS
(NOTRE DAME)
☘️13 starts at LG
☘️13 starts at OC
(INDIANA)
♦️13 starts at OC
14th vs Bama 1/1 https://t.co/IXYv7JdJcx pic.twitter.com/NcrmEu5XYP
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) December 27, 2025
"At Notre Dame, you know, being able to meet and work with like (Colts lineman) Quenton Nelson and Zach Martin, learned a lot of things from those guys; just how to handle yourself, the physicality of the game, how to prepare," Coogan said. "And really just, you know, love watching young guys like Tanner Bordolini going in the league and have success. Aaron Brewer is a guy who's incredibly athletic and flies around.
"So I try and take bits and pieces from everybody to be the complete player that I want to be."
Coogan appreciated the Indiana football journey from nobody to national champs and played his role to perfection with no sacks allowed or quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF's Ben Cooper labeled him a "sleeper to watch."
At the NFL Combine, Pat Coogan voiced his confidence in #iufb to continue building success under Curt Cignetti.
“It’s a very exciting time to be a part of (Indiana) university and we’re only going up from here. And that’s a fact.”
Full clip 👇 pic.twitter.com/mzFYAkYloz
— Colin McMahon (@ColinMcMahon31) February 28, 2026
"A lot of people poured their heart and souls into the program, and we've really gotten nothing in return for a long while, you know, results-wise," Coogan said. "So to see that was really special."
Coogan is 6-foot-5, 311 pounds and is rated on NFL Mock Draft Data Base as a fourth-rounder and by Pro Football Focus as a fifth-rounder—definitely someone the Bears could take later while they look at players.
Ranking the #1 Center on all 32 NFL teams:
1. Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum
2. Chiefs: Creed Humphrey
3. Lions: Frank Ragnow
4. Eagles: Cam Jurgens
5. Bears: Drew Dalman
6. Cardinals: Hjalte Froholdt
7. Vikings: Ryan Kelly
8. Saints: Erik McCoy
9. Commanders: Tyler Biadasz
10. Jets:… pic.twitter.com/Xd2CjVrjGe
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) May 8, 2025
Even if they signed Biadasz, picking someone like Coogan later in the draft wouldn't be a bad idea for depth because they've been caught by surprise with this move by Dalman and really have no one in the backup role since Ryan Bates is a free agent.
Here are other highly rated players for this draft they can consider.
Bears can’t afford a Caleb Williams regression.
You have to seriously explore Tyler Linderbaum https://t.co/WqSTnomAyt
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) March 3, 2026
Sam Hecht, Kansas State
A 6-4, 300-pounder regarded as a late second-rounder to early third-rounder and possibly the best center in the draft. PFF has him 68th on the big board but Mel Kiper differs greatly and has him only as the sixth-best center on his board. He started three seasons for Kansas State. He was playing at only 291 pounds but added weight since college.
Kansas State center Sam Hecht (#75) is so good on the move, both pulling + climbing to the second level. Plug-and-play talent.
Didn’t allow a sack the past two seasons as the Wildcats’ starting center either. pic.twitter.com/EpjBCSyoaI
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) February 22, 2026
Connor Lew, Auburn
Graded 77th on the Pro Football Focus big board, Lew is Kiper's No. 1 center in this draft despite coming off an ACL tear. He is 6-3, 303 and less experienced with only three years and 30 games of experience. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein grades Lew as an average NFL starter and lauds his quickness and hand strength, while making him the fourth-best center in this draft.
Connor Lew's ACL tear in October complicates his projection. He likely won't be able to be cleared for football until sometime in training camp.
His vision and pass blocking skills are top tier.
Watch him pick up this crashing LB and block 2 defenders.pic.twitter.com/5etCFEgcqF
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) February 14, 2026
Jake Slaughter, Florida
Graded just behind Lew by PFF as a possible third-rounder (80th overall), Slaughter is 6-5, 303 and played 51 games over five years. Zierlein and NFL.com are much higher on his ability after he was given the highest overall score of all the centers at the combine. He showed he can get up out of his stance after the snap and run by turning in a 5.1-second 40-yard dash and 1.74-second 10-yard split. He also had a 32 1/2-inch vertical leap.
Way too early Draft Crush for me is @GatorsFB
C- Jake Slaughter
Currently ranked 90 on the Consensus Big Boardpic.twitter.com/XjEmIJEgOn
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) January 12, 2026
Jager Burton, Kentucky
A 6-4, 323-pounder, he was the second-best center at the combine for athletic score but NFL.com had him ranked 10th at his position. He is 127th on PFF's big board, which puts him in the late fourth round. Zierlein says he can easily flex out to guard because of his size.
Kentucky C 62 Jager Burton is effective with his off hand. It hits fast and shocks the defender. Anchor gets tested but good enough as he gets a hand to the face. There's a lot to like with Burton and his ability at center. https://t.co/95FyUrlkBz pic.twitter.com/1lBwnZRqPP
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 23, 2026
Logan Jones, Iowa
Graded a fifth- or sixth-rounder on most big boards, he's still rated fourth best at his position by Kiper. At 6-3, 302, he was rated the second best center at the combine by Zierlein because he had the best combine athletic score for centers. He did practically every workout, which didn't hurt. A 4.9-second 40-yard dash was extremely impressive and he had a 1.75-second 10-yard split. His vertical was 32 inches and h had a 9-foot-2 broad jump.
Logan Jones another strong option in the draft for the Bears pic.twitter.com/jN5j37F8gD
— Steve Letizia (@CFCBears) March 3, 2026
Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
He played almost entirely at guard for four seasons at Wake Forest, but then played center for one year and was a real surprise as Pro Football Focus' highest graded center in FBS last season. Kiper had him fifth for the draft on his chart at the position.
Michigan State C Matt Gulbin is extremely impressive and has entrenched himself as the #2 C prospect in this class behind Auburn's Connor Lew for me.
His effort, dexterity, and leg drive consistently jump off tape, and he processes extremely fast. He has legitimate value at both… pic.twitter.com/COf1vs0rwb
— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) February 20, 2026
Brian Parker II, Duke
No. 5 among centers on Kiper's big board, he had the third-best center score at the combine per NFL.com's Zierlein. At 6-5, 309 and with hands 10 inchs and arms 32-7/8 inches, he's a good enough athlete to be at guard or center. He did 29 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press and ran a 5.14-second 40.
Duke OT Brian Parker II has put up a 95.1 run blocking and 88.2 pass blocking grade this season according to PFF
He likely kicks inside at the next level but YHIHF, Parker can be a dominant center in the NFL with his blend of good footwork, good technique, and ability to… pic.twitter.com/qbRH7jxsd3
— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) September 29, 2025
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X: BearsOnSI