The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and the Chicago Bears should be looking to add at the center position, a spot where they lost veteran Drew Dalman to a sudden retirement this offseason.
After Dalman’s decision to step away, the Bears moved quickly to acquire veteran Garrett Bradbury, who will join the team on a one-year contract, giving the team a need to address the position long-term. Last season, the team signed Dalman in free agency, and he played pivotal role in turning around the play of the offensive line.
While the Bears have other pressing needs on their roster, especially on the defensive side, they could be looking at two additions on the offensive line, most importantly the center position. With four picks in the Top 89 selections of the draft, Chicago has an opportunity to bring in the highest talent with a best player available strategy.
We’re examining a center that Chicago can target in each round of the NFL draft. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar is not shy about discussing what he’s looking for at each position of the offensive line, while Ben Johnson has amplified the importance of center, which will be crucial to keeping Caleb Williams’ development rising.
Round 1: Sam Hecht, Kansas St
While there is not a specific center who has a Round 1 value on them, Sam Hecht is slotted here for how quickly the team was interested in him during the pre-draft process. Shortly when the offseason began, Chicago was present at Hecht’s Pro Day and workouts, as he’s coming off a very strong 2025 season for Kansas State. Hecht committed no penalties while allowing zero sacks and zero quarterback pressures this past year.
Round 2: Connor Lew, Auburn
The other top center in this year’s draft, with the Bears having two picks in the second round, Connor Lew could very much be a realistic target. He has been praised for his technique at a young age, but he didn’t particularly have a strong statistical season in terms of grading high on the PFF scale. Lew would be a guy who could come in and sit behind Garrett Bradbury, learn the NFL game, and take over when the coaching staff feels he is ready.
Round 3: Jake Slaughter, Florida
Jake Slaughter does not have the ideal size for the center position, but he is very quick off the ball and has athleticism to help make up for his physical build. He allowed one sack and two quarterback hurries this past year for Florida, while grading out as the eighth-best center in college football.
Round 4: Jager Burton, Kentucky
Jager Burton’s best season came this past year for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he played the most snaps of his collegiate career with 819. He would be a work in progress for the coaching staff, but currently projects best as a depth rotational piece.
Round 5: Pat Coogan, Indiana
Having split his collegiate career between Notre Dame and Indiana, Pat Coogan would have some relative familiarity with the Chicagoland area, and plenty of experience to go with it. Manning the center position for Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers during their National Championship season, Coogan knows what it takes to win at the highest level in college and has a high football IQ that led him to win Rose Bowl MVP this past year.
Round 6: Matt Gulbin, Michigan St.
Matt Gulbin graded out on the PFF scale as the second-best center in all of college football, particularly performing best in his pass block grade. A fifth-year senior who has versatility across the offensive line, Gulbin could provide good depth for backup purposes, while the team works to find the best position for him.
Round 7: Connor Tollison, Missouri
Connor Tollison transitioned over to center once he landed at Missouri, so there are still several areas for him to improve on, including reducing the number of penalties he committed. Tollison’s biggest credit point is his lengthy starting experience in the SEC while playing for the Tigers, but he’ll project more as a project than anything else for the Bears.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 1 center for Chicago Bears in every round of 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
