New head coach Ben Johnson was dead serious about swapping out four or more offensive line starters before his first season with the Chicago Bears.
According to multiple reports, the Bears landed their top target at center within the first hour of the NFL negotiating window on Monday, hammering out a three-year, $42 million pact with Falcons free agent Drew Dalman.
Dalman’s former Falcons teammate, 10-year veteran Grady Jarrett, agreed to sign with the Bears on the same day he was released by Atlanta. Jarrett’s deal is reportedly worth $43.5 million over three years and was one of two deals the Bears worked with defensive linemen.
Colts free agent defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract. Odeybingo, 25, can play multiple positions on the defensive line for coordinator Dennis Allen at 6-5, 286. He had three sacks last season after posting eight in 2023. Has has 16 in 61 NFL games.
Odeyingbo and Dalman can officially sign with the Bears when the league year begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. The 31-year-old Jarrett (36.5 career sacks in 152 games) was released by the Falcons and faces no restrictions on the timing of his contract signing.
Dalman, 26, would join a revamped interior that includes high-priced guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Thuney and Jackson were acquired via trades and count a combined $33 million against the 2025 salary cap, barring renegotiated deals or contract extensions with Chicago.
Dalman’s annual average salary of $14 million makes him the NFL’s second-highest-paid center behind Thuney’s former Chiefs teammate, Creed Humphrey.
Johnson, offensive coordinator of the Lions before he was hired by GM Ryan Poles in January, said his priority before the NFL draft was to improve blocking ahead of quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams was sacked 68 times as a rookie.
With the Falcons, Dalman allowed only two sacks in 2024 but missed a total of 11 games the past two seasons due to ankle injuries.
–Field Level Media
