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Chicago Bears Receive Warning on Recent Signing from Two NFL Executives

As the Chicago Bears entered the 2025 offseason, they knew the trenches needed work. General manager Ryan Poles made a strong move to address this need, adding three offensive line starters and two defensive line starters. The addition of Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney, and Drew Dalman to the interior offensive line in March has bolstered the team’s line, leaving Poles with just one more area to improve: left tackle. On the defensive side, the Bears signed Grady Jarrett and Dayo Oedyingbo, giving them added flexibility going into the 2025 draft, where they hold four picks in the first 72 selections.

However, not all NFL executives are sold on one of the Bears’ key signings.

According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, one NFL executive has voiced concerns about Drew Dalman, the newly signed center. The executive believes Dalman might not be the ideal fix for drop-back situations and is better suited for wide-zone blocking in the run game. “Detroit did a lot of that, but with the keeper element that Caleb Williams enables, your cutback is going to be there,” the exec stated. “Time will tell if their guard play enables the gap-scheme element as a complement. I do think the integrity of the pocket, with that center, will be compromised in dropback situations. I’d imagine they are planning on staying out of those situations as much as they can.”

Pro Football Focus gave Dalman a 66.6 overall grade for pass protection in 2024, ranking him 21st out of 64 centers. However, he received praise for his run-blocking, earning the fifth spot in that category and ranking fourth overall.

Another executive, quoted by Sando, praised the Bears’ moves to bring in Thuney and Jackson, calling them smart acquisitions. However, the same exec felt that the Bears overpaid for Dalman, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal. “I applaud them for doing it the way they are doing it,” the exec remarked. “You get two proven commodities at guard, and the head coach (Ben Johnson) knows Jonah Jackson from Detroit. It’s an overpay for the center, but they have a chance to address left tackle in the draft and come away with a pretty formidable group.”

It’s common for teams to overpay during free agency, and the Bears clearly believe Dalman is their guy. If the offensive line upgrades help protect Caleb Williams, new head coach Ben Johnson will be looking for a more balanced offense that emphasizes the run game. If Dalman can contribute to improving the Bears’ run game, which struggled in 2024, it will help alleviate pressure on the passing game and give Williams more time in the pocket.