Last off-season, the Chicago Bears signed free agent center Drew Dalman to help fix their woeful offensive line. He certainly played a huge role in the unit’s turnaround, making the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Bears. It also turns out that his first year in Chicago is also his last. Despite having two more seasons left on his contract, the 27-year-old surprisingly retired from the NFL yesterday.
Obviously, this decision leaves the Bears with a glaring hole to fill. The can, of course, look in the NFL Draft for a center because this year’s crop of interior offensive linemen is pretty deep.
However, Chicago may want a veteran center for the time being as they continue their quest to take their next step to Super Bowl contention. If this is the case, there are several affordable options on the impending free agent market.
1. Tyler Biadasz
Chicago did not waste any time looking for a replacement at center. Not long after Dalman’s retirement was reported, it was also announced that they were hosting Tyler Biadasz on a visit:
The #Bears are hosting free agent center Tyler Biadasz on a visit, source said. The former #Commanders starter was recently released and now is available before the frenzy begins. pic.twitter.com/83dx8sec4X
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2026
Biadasz, who went to college at Wisconsin, was recently released by the Washington Commanders. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys and made a Pro Bowl in 2022.
As a bonus: it is pretty well-known that Chicago’s rival, the Green Bay Packers, are interested in Biadasz. Ryan Poles could swipe one of their few free agent targets right out from under them.
2. Sean Rhyan
Speaking of the Packers, they are not expected to bring back impending free agent interior lineman Sean Rhyan. A former third round pick, Rhyan has experience mostly as a guard in the NFL.
However, when Green Bay’s starting center, Elgton Jenkins, went down with a broken leg midway through last season, Rhyan was the one the Packers chose to fill that role.
He performed admirably, though far from perfectly. If Chicago were to go this route, they could sign him to a short-term contract and allowing him to play while they draft and develop their center of the future.
Worst case scenario: they sign him and he ends up being an above-average guard for the Bears.
3. Cade Mays
Cade Mays started his career with the Carolina Panthers as an offensive guard. Over the last two years, though, he has been their starting center.
The concern here, though, is that he has not played a full 17 games in a season once in his four-year career. That being said, that is part of what makes him so affordable in free agency.
PFF gave Mays a 69.4 pass blocking grade in 2025, which ranked 13th among centers. However, he also had a 58.4 run blocking grade, which ranked 33rd among centers.
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