Following the shocking retirement of Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman, the Chicago Bears find themselves looking for their long-term solution heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
The news of Dalman’s retirement was sudden and unexpected, especially at 27 years old, coming off a Pro Bowl season and in the first year of a three-year $42 million deal. But Dalman, looking out for his longer-term health, felt it was time.
Dalman was part of general manager Ryan Poles’ 2025 offensive line retooling that translated to just 24 sacks allowed, the second fewest in the league. He was the staple in the middle, playing all of 1,154 offensive snaps last season.
Chicago quickly pivoted, trading for veteran Garrett Bradbury, who came off a Super Bowl season with the New England Patriots. After being drafted 18th overall in 2019, Bradbury, 30, joins the Bears and will get to play alongside college teammate, All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney.
Poles didn’t elect to spend big money and sign Tyler Linderbaum, who got a three-year, $81 million contract. Instead, Chicago opted for the short-term, cheaper option because the 2026 draft class has a handful of guys who could fill the Bears’ center vacancy for the future.
Here is the breakdown of the centers in this season’s NFL draft, their strengths and weaknesses, and which one suits the Bears best with their seven draft picks.
Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 303 pounds 31 5/8 inch arms, 9 7/8 inch hands
Sam Hecht is the most polished of the many prospects in this year’s NFL draft. He’s light on his feet, which allows him to move quickly in both run and pass block situations, and his athleticism makes up for his slightly undersized frame. However, numerous scouts have reported that Hecht’s technique is the best in the draft.
Adding mass and size won’t be an issue for an interior offensive lineman, especially if Hecht gets drafted by Chicago, where he most likely won’t be asked to start right away. His ability to play in sync with his hands and feet allows him to get into run fits, and those same strong hands and active feet allow him to stay connected to blocks.
Last season, Hecht played 769 snaps, allowed zero sacks, zero hits allowed, and accounted for zero penalties. During an interview on Up and Adams, Hecht mentioned that during his pro day at Kansas State, Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar and assistant Kyle DeVan worked the offensive lineman through drills and were able to build a relationship with one another.
“Protecting a quarterback of that caliber, that is super exciting for sure,” Hecht said. “The staff, the offensive line coach, and the assistant offensive line coach were amazing. I feel like we grew a good relationship just in the short time that we had with each other.”
Hecht has been all over the draft board, mocked from mid to late second round and even the third round. Chicago has two late picks in the second and one in the third. The question is how much they value the center portion, and is Hecht their guy?
Jake Slaughter, Florida
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 303 pounds, 32 3/8 inch arms, 10 inch hands
Jake Slaughter brings plenty of experience as a three-year starter with plenty of game experience, but with his height matched with a lighter weight at 303 pounds, he lacks the size and mass needed to fill out his frame. The lighter weight has allowed Slaughter to be lighter on his feet, and he does a good job with his active feet.
He’s a guy projected to rounds four or later, but with time in the NFL to develop, learn more technique, and add on more weight with his experience, he could be a starter down the road in his career. With his size and lack of mass, Slaughter seems it’s a guy Chicago would likely shy away from.
Logan Jones, Iowa
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 299 pounds, 30 3/4 inch, 9 1/2 inch
Logan Jones is another undersized center who has plenty of experience. His technique with his hands and feet has allowed him to excel thus far. He possesses initial quickness off the ball, allowing him to latch onto defensive tackles. Has a good first punch and is direct with his lands at a level against the rush. He can slide protect to open up run gaps and get to the second level quickly and locate linebackers.
Jones has similar traits to Hecht, who is an inch shorter, but poses the same kind of upside in the technique and IQ. He is projected to be later than Hecht and land potentially in the fourth or fifth round. If Chicago does wait, it could find itself in a position to draft Jones in the fourth round.
Connor Lew, Auburn
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, 32 3/8 inch arms, 9 inch hands
Connor Lew has a stronger frame than his tape may show for Auburn. He can bump and run and get to the second level against local linebackers and safeties. He plays with overall toughness, a good IQ, and leadership that might bring attention to him from teams earlier than he is projected.
With more reps in the NFL in a scheme that he will become familiar with, Lew will not only fill out in his frame, but also allow him to become a solid starter in the NFL. His wrestling background shows up in the hip roll to anchor on tape, and he can quickly bounce back an re-gain leverage in his hands and feet.
Like Jones and possibly Hecht, Lew is projected to go in the third round, and possibly even higher for teams who are more in need in the center position. Hecht, through Lew, is one of the top four centers in the class who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, but there are options later in the draft.
Pat Coogan, Indiana
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, 21 1/8 inch arms, 9 1/4 inch hands
The IQ, size, and communication skills are there for Pat Coogan, who spent four seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to Indiana for his final season. His leadership and traits will appeal to coaches. On top of that, Coogan is technically sound. He’s good in gap schemes and inside zone and has a good first punch and relocated his hands well when knocked down.
Coogan is a Chicago native who attended Marist High School and had offers from schools. His anchor is given away against powerful bull rushers, and he has been very scheme-reliant and has a hard time finding a fit in the outside zone. Coogan can be an option for the Bears, but isn’t the prototypical light on his feet type center that would fit well in the Ben Johnson pulling offense.
Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, 31 3/4 inch arms, 9 1/2 inch hands
Matt Gulbin is another guy projected behind the initial pack of the top four I mentioned. He is projected to be a Day 3 pick, but as a three-year starter, he brings average size and good power. He is a better vertical mover to the second level than he is a laterally moving block in the run game, but it is something he can improve on. Gulbin is a good pass-protection blocker with a good anchor to stay tight on his blocks.
Gulbin’s tape shows consistency, and he can be nimble and take on good angles on linebackers in the second level. Other than needing to get better in his lateral movement, this is a potential pick for Chicago if Gulbin is available in the seventh or by acquiring a pick.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 6 center options for the Chicago Bears in the 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Preston Zbroszczyk , Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
