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Let’s keep our eyes on Logan Jones early in training camp.
In a story at ESPN exploring the top storylines as NFL training camps get underway, Ben Solak identifies Jones as a rookie to watch this season. And in doing so, makes an astute observation (and a bold prediction!) while dissecting the upcoming battle between the rookie and projected starting center, Garrett Bradbury.
Check it out:
Bradbury is not a permanent starter, however, so Chicago made Jones the first-drafted center, taking him in Round 2. Jones is cut from the Dalman cloth: not physically dominant but smart and quick on his feet. Of course, the Johnson offense is brutally complex, which could make asking a rookie center to manage protections and run adjustments right away a recipe for disaster. Jones will likely unseat Bradbury at some point in the season. How well he performs in training camp will be the first sign of just how ready he is.
The idea that Logan Jones is cut from the cloth as Drew Dalman intrigues me. Dalman was strong in the middle last year, particularly in the running game where he posted a 78.9 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking seventh among centers. His pass protection was nice, too, with a 69.0 pass-blocking grade that checked in at 14th among 40 qualifying centers. There was plenty of chatter before the draft about Jones being a plug-and-play center. If that is how the cookie crumbles and it turns out that Jones is Dalman-esque, then I think we’ll be discussing the University of Iowa product as another second-round NFL Draft steal by this front office.
Will the Bears have a real training camp battle featuring Logan Jones and Garrett Bradbury?
Chicago Bears rookie center Logan Jones could overtake veteran Garrett Bradbury at some point this season. And it could be a matter of when, not if, it happens. That instantly makes him a player to watch at training camp.
ESPN’s Ben Solak makes a good point by highlighting the challenges of learning the complexities of Ben Johnson’s offense. With that in mind, I imagine that the Bears’ head coach would prefer a veteran who has been around the block to get the snaps in the early going. However, decision-makers at Halas Hall didn’t hesitate to throw a young player into the fire if they felt that player was the best option available. Hence, I believe the Bears will give Jones an opportunity to win the job.
MORE: One Insider Believes Logan Jones Could Be an Offensive Line Centerpiece
However, my gut tells me that the team wants to follow the blueprint the New England Patriots laid out last year by using Bradbury as a bridge starter for a year, allowing Jared Wilson to use his rookie year to watch and learn while sitting behind a veteran starter.
Because I believe second-round picks can be immediate starters, I don’t love that the Bears could use the 2026 campaign as a redshirt season for Jones. But that might be what happens. And it very well could work in the team’s favor over the long haul. Frankly, following the Patriots plan is a sensible (and potentially brilliant) idea. Hey, we’ve seen the Bears try to follow worse blueprints. Maybe this one could work!
WHY GARRETT BRADBURY FITS THE BEARS’ TIMELINE
In the end, I find myself putting the center competition to start at center near the top of my list of things to watch during training camp and the preseason. The best-case scenario might be Logan Jones practicing and playing so well that the team has no choice but to start him in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. But if that isn’t what plays out, it wouldn’t be the end of the world — especially if Garrett Bradbury can hold down the fort in the meantime.
