The Chicago Bears have addressed their biggest issue with free agency – technically, the legal tampering period – barely hours old. They had already traded for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, but then signed Drew Dalman.
Bear Agree to Sign C Drew Dalman to Historic Contract
Dalman lands a historic deal to join the Bears’ retooled O-line
“ESPN sources: Former Falcons center Drew Dalman reached agreement today on a three-year, $42 million deal that includes $28 million guaranteed with the Chicago Bears,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on March 10. “The deal makes Dalman the NFL’s second-highest center. Steve Caric of Wasserman negotiated the deal with Bears GM Ryan Poles, who has poured his resources into Chicago’s offensive line.”
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“Chicago Bears continue to make huge additions on their offensive line. This time, the top center is off the board,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on March 10. “If you’ve been following along, all they have done is make big-time additions on the offensive line.
“All it is is about protecting Caleb Williams and making sure that he is in a good position to succeed. That is exactly what the bears do Drew Dalman headed to Chicago.”
Drew Dalman Lands Predicted Contract With Bears
Dalman was originally a four-round pick by the Falcons in 2021. Injuries have limited him to 23 games over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But he is widely regarded as one of the top players at his position if not all of free agency.
“High-end centers usually don’t hit free agency, and Dalman should benefit. He missed time last season with an ankle injury but excelled when he played, allowing two sacks on 295 pass-blocking snaps and finishing with PFF’s fifth-best grade among centers,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on March 5.
“Dalman has 40 career starts and might still have his best football ahead of him at age 26. A contract with an annual salary in the $13 million-to-$14 million range would make sense.”
He was the No. 19 overall free agent in The Athletic’s rankings.
“Though PFF ranked Dalman’s pass protection No. 22 among centers this season, he was No. 4 in run blocking. The grades overall are “incomplete,” though, because Dalman missed eight games with an ankle injury. In the nine he played, he allowed only 10 pressures and no sacks,” The Athletic’s David DeChant, Jourdan Rodrigue, and Vict Tafur wrote in February.
Dalman would fit any team that deploys lots of zone run concepts, and behind him, the center market is quite thin. He has been the team’s starting center for the last three seasons when healthy. Every other Falcons starting offensive lineman is under contract through at least 2025.
Bears Have Increased Flexibility in 2025 Draft
Just because the Bears address their interior offensive line does not mean they are finished with the unit as a whole. However, they can be far more flexible knowing those positions are less of a need heading into the heart of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the No. 10 pick, many considered the Bears candidates to select and offensive lineman among other positions.
Now, they can focus on those other positions like edge rusher and maybe even running back.