The Chicago Bears found a cornerstone on the offensive line with the selection of Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Bears lost starting center Drew Dalman this offseason, following his surprise retirement, which left them with a big hole at one of the most important positions in Ben Johnson’s offense. They didn’t wait long to trade for veteran Garrett Bradbury, who has one year left on his current deal. Now, Chicago appears to have found their long-term option in Jones.
In four years at Iowa, Jones started 51 games at center and was an Unanimous All-American this past season, and he was the Rimington Trophy winner as the nation’s top center. Jones fits what the Bears are looking for at center, and he could challenge for the starting job as a rookie.
Here’s a collection of all of the grades for Jones from various media outlets, where experts are split about the selection. Some love the move for the Bears, as Jones fills a big need and projects as a long-term solution, while others believe Chicago reached on the pick.
USA Today: C+
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “Many assumed the Bears could take an offensive tackle early with Ozzy Trapilo’s injury recovery timeline unclear. Instead, Chicago looked to upgrade elsewhere on its front. Jones, the Rimington Award winner, is a good fit for Ben Johnson’s outside zone scheme. But there didn’t seem to be much of a distinction between him and the other top centers in the draft, and this felt like a bit of a reach.”
The Athletic: B+
Scott Dochterman: “There are concerns about Jones’ size (6-3, 299) and short arms (30 3/4 inches), but his quickness and power make up for those detriments. Jones won the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center and was a unanimous first-team All-American for the top offensive line in the country. There aren’t many players more mature than Jones.”
NFL.com: B+
Chad Reuter: “Jones was my favorite center in the draft. He’s an athletic zone blocker who can anchor despite lacking ideal size.”
CBS Sports: D+
Mike Renner: “I had three centers on my board, considerably higher than Jones, that were all good scheme fits for Ben Johnson’s offense. Jones’s ability to run outside zone is why he comes off the board here, but you’re going to consistently give up a lot in pass protection with him in the middle.”
Pro Football Focus: Reach
Pro Football Focus: “Jones is a high-IQ, feisty center with strong athleticism for zone schemes. He moves well laterally and shows good hand usage, but his outlier-short arm length creates challenges sustaining blocks and handling longer defenders.”
Yahoo! Sports: B-
Charles McDonald: “Jones is a solid fill-in player for the Bears as they replace the production of Drew Dalman, who retired this offseason. Center was a huge need and they’ve at least taken a stab at a potential starter here.”
Sports Illustrated: A-
Matt Verderame: “A six-year collegiate player, Jones is an interesting talent. At 299 pounds, he’s undersized in the pivot but played at a high level for the Hawkeyes, starting 51 games over the past four years and winning the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center. Jones also comes from a school with a terrific track record of producing offensive linemen, including three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
How he fits with the Bears: The Bears desperately needed to upgrade at center after losing Drew Dalman to a shocking retirement after a Pro Bowl campaign. Although general manager Ryan Poles acquired Garrett Bradbury to help solidify center, Jones is likely the starter from the jump.”
Sporting News: A
Vinnie Iyer: “Jones is a natural run blocker with his smarts but he might need to get stronger before he can displace free-agent addition Garrett Bradbury to replace retired Drew Dalman at center.”
Bleacher Report: C+
Brent Sobleski: “The center class isn’t strong this year, without a single snapper ranking among the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s top 85 prospects. Jones is an older, smaller center, but he’s an explosive athlete and an experienced play-caller in the middle of the offensive line. The Iowa product can immediately compete to start along the Chicago Bears’ offensive interior. As a second-round pick, the Bears likely expect him to beat out Garrett Bradbury and start at center.”
For The Win: A
For The Win: “It’s not a sexy pick, but if you need to replace a veteran center who unexpectedly retired this offseason (Drew Dalman) you’re not going to find a better fit than Jones. He’s only got average size, but he’s your typical Iowa product – strong as hell, mean and a straight-up people mover. It’s a great fit for a Bears team that badly needs him.”
SB Nation: B-
Mark Schofield: “This fills an immediate need for the Bears, with the unexpected retirement of Drew Dalman. Yes, the Bears added Garrett Bradbury, but Jones gives the Bears an athletic center who fits well with the zone blocking designs you often see from Ben Johnson’s offense.”
Bears Wire: B+
Mike Pendleton: “There were other options at the center position for Chicago, but they identified Jones as their target and he brings a credible resume to the Windy City with a potential opportunity to compete for the starting job as a rookie. Jones took over Tyler Linderbaum at Iowa, no easy task, and went on to be a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and the aforementioned All-American for his stellar season this past year. The center position is one of the most important in Ben Johnson’s offense, and they wanted to make sure to bring in a player who could be there for the long run.”
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: How NFL experts graded the Bears’ selection of Logan Jones
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
