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The Chicago Bears moved swiftly to address an unexpected roster hole, agreeing in principle to acquire veteran center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The deal cannot become official until the NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday.
Chicago suddenly found itself searching for a new starting center earlier in the week when Drew Dalman announced a surprise retirement. The Bears placed Dalman on the reserve/retired list Friday, prompting general manager Ryan Poles to quickly secure a replacement with significant starting experience.
Bradbury Brings Veteran Stability to Chicago’s Offensive Line
Bradbury arrives in Chicago after starting every game for New England last season, including its postseason run that ended in Super Bowl LX. The 2019 first-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Patriots ahead of the 2025 season.
Across seven NFL seasons, Bradbury has accumulated 105 career starts and has not missed a game over the past two years. Chicago will owe the veteran center roughly $4.7 million in the final year of his contract, a manageable figure for a team that recently created about $44 million in cap space following several roster moves, including trading DJ Moore and releasing Tremaine Edmunds.
Bradbury’s experience could prove valuable for a Bears offensive line that has lost significant continuity this offseason and could be without left tackle Ozzy Trapilo for much of the offseason due to a knee injury.
Offensive Fit Under Ben Johnson
Chicago’s offensive approach under head coach Ben Johnson may suit Bradbury’s strengths. The Bears used under-center formations on nearly half their offensive snaps in 2025 and ranked among the league leaders in play-action usage and explosive plays.
Bradbury previously thrived in a similar zone-blocking scheme during his early years in Minnesota, when the Vikings relied heavily on play-action concepts and misdirection in the run game.
Patriots Turn to Younger Option at Center
With Bradbury departing, New England is expected to shift 2025 third-round pick Jared Wilson to center. Wilson played the position during his college career at University of Georgia but spent most of his rookie season at left guard as the Patriots prioritized keeping their best five linemen on the field.
Trading Bradbury also frees nearly $6 million in salary-cap space for New England as it reshapes its offensive line ahead of the 2026 season.
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