When the Chicago Bears traded for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney last week, there was some question as to whether or not the Bears would still pursue Drew Dalman.
Viewed as the top center on the market in an offseason where there are several teams in need of one, Dalman was projected to receive a contract that paid him near the top of the market at the position. Given the money the Bears absorbed in acquiring Jackson and Thuney, there was some question if the Bears would be willing to pay a premium price for Dalman.
The Bears wasted no time answering that question. Shortly after the legal tampering window opened for the 2025 NFL Free Agency, the Bears' deal with Dalman was reported.
Drew Dalman's signing completes the transformation of the Chicago Bears' offensive line
The signing of Dalman completes an aggressive overhaul of the Bears' offensive. During his introductory press conference, Bears head coach Ben Johnson stressed the importance of offensive line play. Ryan Poles followed suit with a determined approach to revamp the starting offensive line that saw Caleb Williams approach the record for most sacks taken in a rookie season.
Given the moves over the last week, the Bears have found the three new starting offensive linemen needed when the offseason started. From left to right, the Bears' projected starters are Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright.
The signing of Dalman now gives the Bears even more flexibility for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite suffering an ankle injury that ended his season prematurely, Jones is expected to be ready in time for training camp. Despite holding his own as a starting left tackle, there have been questions about whether the former fifth-round pick is the long-term answer at the position. If Poles wanted to continue his overhaul of the offensive line, LSU's Will Campbell could be an intriguing option in the first round.