Projected Day 2 draft pick might look good in a Bears uniform if selected

Garrett Bradbury appears to be a solid option at center for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 season, but what about after that?

The stunning retirement announcement of Drew Dalman left a lot of questions at the center position for the future, even with Bradbury in the building shortly after that. That has led many NFL mock drafts to have the Bears take a center on Day 2 or 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Bears had a pre-draft visit with Kentucky center Jager Burton. Last year with the Wildcats, Burton was the 44th-ranked center in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus, earning a 71.3 overall grade.

Bears met with Jager Burton before the 2026 NFL Draft

Burton is a projected Day 2 selection, giving the Bears wiggle room to target other positions to start the NFL Draft. The Bears have plenty of needs on the roster, including center, wide receiver, edge rusher, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and safety.

It makes sense for the Bears to have Bradbury start at center in the 2026 season, since he's got the experience the team needs to hold over. Burton would make a good option to develop over the next year, and when 2027 rolls around, he can step in at center and build a long future with quarterback Caleb Williams on offense.

Williams is set to have his third different starting center in the last three years in the NFL, so some stability is needed at the position. While he has mainly been working with veteran centers, he needs someone who will stick around for a long time.

Read more: Bears finally made the Darnell Wright move fans have waited all offseason to see

Some Bears fans are believers in Bradbury and that he will be able to get the job done. Others, though, want someone like Burton who can be there for a long time.

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