Bears Grab Veteran Center to Plug Gaps
The Chicago Bears moved swiftly before the new NFL season, trading a 2027 fifth‑round pick to New England for former Vikings center Garrett Bradbury. The deal will be finalized once the league year opens next Wednesday.
About Garrett Bradbury
- Drafted: 1st round, 2019
- Vikings Tenure: 6 seasons
- Contract: Two‑year deal worth up to $12 million in 2025
- Final Year: Bears owe $4.7 million
Bradbury played every game in his sole season with the Patriots, anchoring an offensive line that featured rookie left tackle Will Campbell and guard Jared Wilson. His experience is expected to stabilize a Bears line that lost 40 % of its starters after Drew Dalman’s retirement, with left tackle Ozzy Trapilo still rehabbing a knee injury.
Salary‑Cap Move
Chicago also cleared $44 million in cap space by:
- Releasing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds
- Trading wide receiver DJ Moore to the Bills
This creates room for additional talent without breaking the bank.
Bradbury’s Fit in Chicago
Bradbury’s prime years were with Minnesota’s zone‑scheme offense, handling extensive play‑action and misdirection. Under head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears ran a pass‑heavy attack in 2025, using the center as snapper nearly half the time and relying on play‑action in about a third of drives. The team also posted one of the league’s highest rates of explosive plays.
New England’s Response
Patriots center Wilson—drafted in 2025—will likely fill the void. Wilson, a former guard at Georgia who transitioned to center, exemplifies the Patriots’ flexible offensive line approach.
