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Ranking 5 best free agent centers Chicago Bears should sign

By Parker Hurley

Sep 19, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Malcolm Roach (97) goes up against Carolina Panthers center Matt Paradis (61)during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Malcolm Roach (97) goes up against Carolina Panthers center Matt Paradis (61)during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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A lot of the focus when it comes to the Chicago Bears is their need at wide receiver and cornerback. However, their starting center is as important as any position to address this year. The draft is where you want to build a team but there are only so many draft options and it is hard to assume that the right fit will fall.

With that in mind, they may be filling all other positions in the draft, but adding a free-agent center. Like the draft, there are not a lot of options available, but the following could surely be signed for the right price.

Keep in mind in the ranking of these we are factoring in their value in combination with their play.  So, who are the best fits for the Chicago Bears? Two honorable mention names are Ethan Pocic and Ted Karras. Both could come cheap, and certainly would be in the second wave of free agency. You also would expect the team to add competition in some regard as well.

5. Could Chicago Bears sign Matt Paradis

Projected Contract Per PFF: 1 year, $3.5M

There is a chance that Matt Paradis could be the best value on the list, but a glaring reason why he has to be number five on our list.  That is that he tore his ACL in November and will be hoping to be healthy, but will likely miss the start of the season. It would be tough to get off on the right foot when a center is rushing to get healthy just to start with someone who he has never played with.

Still, on paper, Paradis has been a great center. He won a Super Bowl in his second NFL and was a starting center for Peyton Manning and the Broncos. No one will praise his work in Carolina, but he was a center for names such as Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Will Grier, and Sam Darnold. To say the least he has worked with a variety of skill sets.

Paradis is 32 years old, and while that comes with experience, it comes with concern in the idea of ACL recovery. He also suffered a fractured fibula in 2018 while still with Denver. This is an obvious upgrade from Sam Mustipher but comes with as much risk.

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