The Chicago Bears went into training camp with one of their biggest offseason questions sitting right in the middle of the offensive line, and Garrett Bradbury is giving them answers.
For a team that has drawn most of its attention for defensive progress and Caleb Williams’ Year 2 development under Ben Johnson, the center battle was easy to overlook. It shouldn’t have been.
Replacing Drew Dalman was never going to be simple, especially after his Pro Bowl season and his reputation as the communication hub up front. But Bradbury has quickly started to change the tone around that spot.
Bears tight end Cole Kmet said the transition has gone smoothly.
"Well, I think we were all a little, you know, you don't know how it's going to go, especially when you lose somebody like Drew, who's kind of that captain of the offensive line there communication-wise," Bears tight end Cole Kmet said last week via CHGO. "But I mean, with Garrett, it really has been flawless so far.
And I know we haven't had pads on from a physicality standpoint, but you talk about communication in the walkthroughs that we've had and in practice. Things have been really clear, concise, and I feel like when I've been out there, especially in the run game and the pass pro, things have been really clear.
And I think we've had a great understanding with one another. So yeah, it's a good unit up front for sure."
That kind of feedback matters because the first job for any center is making the line work as one. Bradbury seems to be passing that test.
The Bears had looked at Bradbury as more of a bridge than a destination, while rookie Logan Jones was supposed to be the long-term answer once he was ready. But through camp, Bradbury has taken firm control of the competition and looks like the starter for now.
There’s still room for the rest of his game to come along, especially in run blocking. That part is not where the Bears want it to finish, and it is something they’ll want to keep building as camp continues. But Chicago does not need to panic about that piece yet.
Bradbury’s 2024 season with the New England Patriots showed both why the Bears brought him in and why they still have reasons to watch closely. He started at center for a Patriots team that reached the Super Bowl. In 642 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed 20 pressures and four quarterback hits.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 60.1 grade, which ranked 30th among 40 NFL centers. His pass-blocking grade came in at 63.1, and his run-blocking grade was 56.2.
For now, though, the Bears are focused on whether the man snapping the ball can handle the calls, keep the operation clean, and hold the job. On that front, Bradbury is checking the most important box.
With plenty of camp left, Chicago still has time to sort out the center spot however it wants. But right now, Bradbury looks close to locking it down and giving Ben Johnson what he needs in the middle.
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