The Chicago Bears have selected Logan Jones of Iowa with the 57th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jones was the first of three selections the Bears made on Day 2 of the draft. He plays a position that has been in flux for them in the past, and threatened to be that way again following the surprising retirement of Pro Bowler Drew Dalman.
He will also get time to learn, if all goes as planned.
Bears Build on Plan at Center With Logan Jones
Logan Jones Could Be Bears’ Center of the Future
Jones joins the Bears, who acquired Garrett Bradbury in a trade with the New England Patriots this offseason to replace Dalman directly. Bears general manager Ryan Poles plans to keep that plan in place, with Jones serving as Bradbury’s understudy.
He is an older prospect, which could speak to an expedited plan in Chicago.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay ranked Jones as his top center prospect and the 57th-best in the 2026 class overall.
“Jones’s short arm length makes him an outlier, but he has the traits to overcome it and develop into a starter in a zone-heavy scheme,” McShay wrote before the draft. “Kevin Mawae reportedly had 31-inch arms, and he developed into a Hall of Fame player.
Jones’ age is less of a concern, since offensive linemen can have longer careers than some other positions.
Still, it is difficult to envision the Bears planning on sitting Jones for more than one season.
Garrett Bradbury Gets Additional Motivation
Notably, Bradbury–who began his career as a first-round pick (2019) with the Minnesota Vikings–is on an expiring two-year, $9.5 million contract that he signed with the Patriots in free agency during the 2025 offseason.
Jones’ arrival is no doubt a sign that Bradbury is a short-term plan for the Bears, making the 2026 season a critical one for the 30-year-old (31 in June).
The Bears still have 2025 sixth-round pick Luke Newman, who took reps at center last summer.
Newman’s presence allows the Bears to keep an additional buffer between Jones and the field until they are ready to deploy him, whenever that may be. Bradbury’s job is to ensure that it does not become a necessity as he plays for his next contract.
