Bears reportedly fill newfound center need with Patriots trade agreement 

The Chicago Bears had an unexpected hole to fill this offseason when star center Drew Dalman informed the team he was retiring earlier this week. 

They did not waste time trying to find his replacement.

Bears reportedly agree to trade with New England Patriots for Garrett Bradbury

The Bears filled that opening on Friday by reportedly agreeing to a trade with the Patriots that will send center Garrett Bradbury to the Bears in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, according to a report from The Athletic. 

The trade can not become official until the start of the new league year next week.

Bradbury, 30, spent the first six years of his career as a member of the Minnesota Vikings before joining New England at the start of the 2025 season. He started all 17 regular-season games and all four playoff games as the Patriots advanced to Super Bowl LX.

While the Bears were one of the biggest surprise stories in the NFL in 2025, and even though they have created major salary cap space for themselves this offseason, they still have to fill over half of their roster with new players. They will have several starting jobs unsettled going into the offseason. 

Bradbury is a good start at filling those spots and a strong replacement for a position they probably weren't expecting to need.

Bradbury is an excellent run-blocker and should fit in well with a Bears team that was one of the best rushing teams in the NFL during the 2025 season.