The New England Patriots have traded starting center Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported.
“The Chicago Bears are trading for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury, per sources,” Russini wrote. “New England receives a fifth-round pick in return. Chicago, who lost Drew Dalman to retirement earlier this week, picks up a veteran with NFC North experience.”
The Bears wasted no time replacing their center, while the deal creates a brand new need for New England.
The trade comes on the heels of head coach Mike Vrabel announcing that the team has been training rookie left guard Jared Wilson to make the jump to center since he was drafted in the third round of last year’s draft.
Bradbury was set to carry a $6.9 million cap hit against the Patriots' payroll next season.
Patriots insider Mike Reiss provided his assessment of Bradbury's one season in Foxboro.
"Garrett Bradbury did everything Patriots asked for after signing him to 2-year deal last offseason, starting every game (1,336 snaps), providing veteran leadership, and helping stabilize OL. With Jared Wilson projected center of future, LG moves up needs list," Reiss wrote.
There are a handful of very talented interior offensive linemen in this year's free agency class, I expect New England to explore that avenue rather than drafting the guard of the future.