The replacement: Bears trading for Patriots center Bradbury to fill Dalman’s spot, sources say

Posted March 06, 2026 5:45 pm

By Dan Wiederer, Chad Graff and Dianna Russini

Three days after news surfaced that Chicago Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman was retiring, the team found its replacement, working a trade with the New England Patriots to acquire veteran Garrett Bradbury for a fifth-round pick in 2027, league sources told The Athletic.

Bradbury, 30, is coming off a solid first season with the Patriots and immediately registers as the likely starter in front of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

Bradbury has drawn praise over the years for his intelligence and his abilities as a run blocker and, like Dalman did for Williams in 2025, should be able to provide significant help at the line of scrimmage, taking a mental load off his quarterback with pre-snap responsibilities.

A first-round pick by the Vikings in 2019, Bradbury spent his first six seasons in Minnesota but was released last spring. He quickly signed on in New England and wound up starting all 21 games last season, including the playoffs, as the Patriots made their run to the Super Bowl.

Bradbury, who played his college ball at NC State, has long been regarded as a solid locker-room guy who should blend in well between Bears guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. He also registers as a solid fit for the culture coach Ben Johnson hopes to continue building.

From the Patriots’ perspective, this more clearly defines the team’s plan to revamp the offensive line and paves the way for Jared Wilson, a third-round pick last year, to slide from left guard, which he played last season, to his more natural position of center, which he played in college at Georgia.

The Patriots were pleased with what Bradbury provided them in his lone season in New England, but after Wilson struggled in the playoffs as a rookie, they needed to find a way to get him back to center and upgrade at left guard.

The Pats aren’t expected to be major players for a top-of-the-market left guard in free agency, but it is a position they plan to target when the leaguewide negotiating period begins next week.

So there’s a good chance that the Patriots return four of their five offensive line starters next season with a new left guard joining Will Campbell, Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses.