Bears interest in centers extends beyond visiting Kansas State's pro day in order to scout Sam Hecht, like they did last week.
According to a report by New York Jets On SI's Arye Pulli, the Bears are bringing Kentucky center Jager Burton to Halas Hall for one of their allotted 30 private visits with potential draft picks.
It doesn't necessarily mean they'll draft a player who visits but often in the past they have chosen players they did bring in for a meeting.
A young center to develop is one of the Bears' needs in the draft because center Garrett Bradbury is in the final year of his contract after being acquired on a trade with New England.
Kentucky C Jager Burton looked like one of the better OL in individuals pic.twitter.com/vaoNlQRVqo
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 23, 2026
The Bears were at Hecht's pro day and can be expected to look closely at all centers, especially those expected to go late on Day 2 or on Day 3 of the draft because they have so many defensive needs to address in the early rounds of the draft.
Burton is one of the bigger centers in this draft class at 6-foot-4, 312 pounds. PFF graded him at 141st on its big board. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein saw him as a Day 3 pick who needs to work on his technique and strength for handling bigger defensive linemen.
"He can slow a bull rush but needs to do a better job of protecting his edges and operating with consistent posture," Zierein wrote. "Burton’s best fit will be with a zone-heavy running game as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent signee."
Kentucky IOL Jager Burton will be drafted as a Center, but his interior versatility & experience is the real sell. Team w/ multiple IOL needs>
🔹23 starts at LG
🔹15 at Center
🔹9 at RG
🧬Dad played at Morehead State
Doesn’t panic with his strengthy base anchor & athletic feet… pic.twitter.com/tPcYgBOLSs
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) January 24, 2026
PFF graded him the 43rd best center in the nation last year while Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN rates him the ninth-best center in the draft.
Not a pressing need
The center the Bears do select will be more of a project or trainee. There are no centers with Round 1 or Round 2 grades in this draft, per PFF's big board.
The Bears have the 25th, 57th, 60th and 89th picks on the first two days and No. 129 in Round 4, before two picks in Round 7.
The #Bears are hosting Kentucky IOL Jager Burton on a pre-draft "30" visit, as he alluded to on his Instagram story.
Ranked #141 on PFF's Big Board. pic.twitter.com/Rk8ycZWkVx
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) March 17, 2026
They were also well represented at Tuesday’s Northwestern pro day by assistant GM Jeff King and others, and Wildcats center Caleb Tiernan is Kiper’s eighth-ranked center.
Using any picks from the first two days for a center would be ill advised considering the Bears’ defensive shortcomings. Center has become a future need more than one for 2026 once they made the trade for
Jager Burton 👀 pic.twitter.com/r8vVVnmElh
— Yuri (@Yuri_Ravens) March 13, 2026
Apparent Mutual Admiration Brewing Between Bears and a Top Center
Roster Gaps Ryan Poles Left Untouched in Week 1 of Bears Free Agency
Chicago Expects Faster Production from Depth Acquisitions
How the Bears Get an Edge Rusher They Need If It's Not Maxx Crosby
Bears Power Couple Moving on to Indy as Safety Migration Is Complete
X: BearsOnSI