IOL/C Jager Burton
Getty
IOL/C Jager Burton
According toreports, theChicago Bears are hosting Kentucky IOL/C Jager Burton for a pre draft visit, marking the second known center the team has shown interest in during this cycle.
At first glance, the Bears don’t need a center. They just traded forGarrett Bradbury, a veteran with over 100 career starts who quite literally played on the biggest stage in football last season.
But at 30 years old, Bradbury was never meant to be a long term answer. Rather he’s a bridge. And that’s where this visit starts to matter.
Jager Burton is not a typical late round flyer
IOL/C Jager Burton
GettyIOL/C Jager Burton
At 6’4”, 323 pounds, Jager Burton is built like a prototypical interior lineman, but what separates him is how he moves… He ran a 4.94 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine, making him one of the most athletic centers in this entire class. Historically athletic, even.
Burton ranked among the top centers ever tested in Relative Athletic Score (RAS), placingseventh out of 676 prospects dating back to 1987. And the production matches.
Across 819 snaps in 2025, Burton allowed: 0 sacks, 0 quarterback hits, just 12 total pressures, and only 2 penalties.
What’s interesting is why the Chicago Bears are looking at centers so hard. Cause if this were just about depth, one center visit would make sense. Two starts to suggest intent. The Bears appear to be doing something very specific… Building layers at the position.
Bradbury gives them a reliable present. But Burton (or a player like him) represents a potential future. And more importantly, he fits what this offense is trying to become.
Head coach Ben Johnson has made it clear what he values up front: physicality, movement, and versatility. Centers in this system aren’t just snapping the ball. They’re pulling, climbing to the second level, and operating in space. That’s exactly where Burton thrives.
Reading between the lines
IOL/C Jager Burton
GettyIOL/C Jager Burton
Now none of this guarantees the Chicago Bears will draft Jager Burton. The most likely outcome is that he’s a Day 3 target, a developmental piece who wouldn’t be expected to start right away. But that’s almost beside the point. What matters is what the Bears are prioritizing.
They aren’t just plugging holes anymore. They’re thinking ahead. And they’re making sure that if something goes wrong (or if they want to raise the ceiling of the position), they already have a plan in place. In today’s NFL, especially with a young quarterback, that kind of foresight matters.
It’s easy to view a pre draft visit like this as minor. But taken alongside the Garrett Bradbury trade and the broader reshaping of the offensive line, it tells a clearer story… The Bears are not done investing in the trenches. Not even close.
Because protectingCaleb Williams isn’t a one year project. And the teams that get it right are the ones preparing before they have to rather than just reacting. That’s what this looks like. And that’s why this move could mean a lot more than it seems.