Hello, Chicago Bears fans! Well, that was a punch in the gut, wasn’t it? We were all shocked as news leaked on Tuesday that Drew Dallman, the Bears’ 27-year-old center, was retiring from the NFL. Dalman, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Bears last offseason after four years in Atlanta, was a Pro Bowl anchor in 2025, starting all 17 games and playing every offensive snap. His decision to walk away from the game opened up a massive hole in the offensive line interior and upended the offseason plans
for a Bears team that needs to remake its starting groups on the defensive line, at linebacker, and safety. However, it also freed up anywhere from 10 million to 14 million dollars of cap space, depending on if the Bears choose to claw back some of the bonus that was due Dallman in the wake of his sudden retirement. With a 2026 draft class at center that is bereft of first round talent at the center position (although do go check out Josh’s article examining some intriguing center prospects in the draft this year), the Bears will likely look to fill this hole in free agency.
The Bears have already hosted former Washington Commanders offensive center Tyler Biadasz. Conner McGovern, the 28-year-old free agent center from the Bills, is another possibility, as he is expected to test free agency this offseason. However, last year the Chicago Bears signed the top offensive center available in free agency when they signed Drew Dalman to a three-year contract. I think they just might do so again. Enter Tyler Linderbaum, the 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler from the Baltimore Ravens, who is poised to hit unrestricted free agency after the Ravens declined his $23.4 million fifth-year option last spring. Negotiations for an extension in Baltimore have stalled despite a “market-setting” offer (projected around $20 million AAV). One of the best offensive centers in the league, Tyler Linderbaum, is going to be a free agent and available to sign with any team next week. And given the importance that Ben Johnson clearly assigns to the position, and the need for an experienced center to pair with a young quarterback, like Caleb Williams, I think he will be their top target to sign once free agency opens. However, it won’t be easy. Many teams will be in on Tyler Linderbaum, including the New York Giants, where his former head coach with the Ravens has landed, and with the Ravens themselves, his current team, who will be in the mix to resign Linderbaum. That said, the Bears are in a position to make a competitive offer for the 26-year-old former first-round pick. Let’s take a look at what he brings to the table and how we might make a contract with him work in the team’s cap structure.
Why Tyler Linderbaum Fits the Bears Perfectly
Linderbaum, a 2022 first-round pick out of Iowa, has been one of the NFL’s elite centers since his rookie year. He’s excelled in both pass protection (allowing just 1 sack in 2025) and run blocking, with PFF grades consistently above 85.0. The Bears’ offense, already featuring young stars like Caleb Williams at QB and a solid tackle duo in Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, would benefit from his athleticism and quickness in zone-blocking schemes. This signing addresses the post-Dalman gap immediately, providing stability for Williams’ development and boosting the run game. Linderbaum is in fact a clear upgrade over Drew Dalman at the position.
At 25 years-old (turning 26 in April), Linderbaum aligns with the Bears’ youth movement. He’s durable (missing only two starts in four years) and could anchor the line for the next 5-7 seasons, especially as the team pushes for playoff contention in a competitive NFC North. Linderbaum’s work ethic and leadership (he’s been a Ravens captain) mesh with head coach Ben Johnson’s emphasis on toughness and accountability. Plus, his Midwestern roots (Iowa native) could make Chicago an appealing destination, given the proximity of Chicago to his hometown.
And Linderbaum is truly an elite player at the center position. Tyler Linderbaum has elite athleticism and quickness (short but explosive; excels at climbing to the second level in zone/power schemes). Like Dalman, he is a dominant run blocker, the kind of “tone-setting” mauler that Ben Johnson craves on the interior of the offensive line. He exhibits strong physicality and body control at the point of attack in the run game. Further, Linderbaum has been lauded for his high football IQ and leadership (three-time Pro Bowler since 2022 draft). However, his pass protection has been inconsistent. His shorter arms (31⅛ inches) can show in one-on-one matchups, leading to higher pressure rates in 2025.
Some aspects of Linderbaum’s game that stand out on the tape: He uses a wide, sturdy base to absorb bull rushes and maintain his anchor. His ability to “forklift” defenders upward once he gets his hands inside, creating leverage by getting under their pads and driving them back, is evident on film. This helps him stall power rushers and prevent easy collapses into the pocket. Linderbaum is technically sound with initial hand strikes—he aims to land precise, violent punches to control the defender’s chest or shoulders, disrupting their rush path early in the moment of the play. He is able to mirror rushers effectively with his short-area quickness, using deliberate, powerful steps to stay square. He shows outstanding hip fluidity in mirroring inside moves or twists/stunts. He’s particularly effective picking up twists (e.g., in combo protections) and adjusting to delayed blitzers, thanks to his quick feet and elite-level processing. He does sometimes struggle with longer, explosive interior rushers that seek to penetrate through the gap. You see instances where defensive tackles or a blitzing linebacker is able to get under his pads and turn him aside, or even bullrush him. He does occasionally mistime his punch or strikes, allowing defenders to win with leverage.
His PFF overall grade for 2026, in what some viewed as a down year for Linderbaum, was 80.3 (5th/40 centers). His run block grade was 83.7 (4th/40), but his pass block grade took a hit in 2026, at 63.4 (22nd/40). He gave up 26th pressures in 2025, a career high for Linderbaum (and not the kind of career high you’re looking for), and had a 5.2% pressure rate allowed. He was credited with allowing 2 sacks last season, but only one QB hit. He was called for five penalties – mostly holding in the run game. Even in a down year relative to his past performance, Linderbaum’s pass grade was similar to Drew Dalman, who posted a 69.0 grade for the 2026 season. And that was a Pro Bowl season for Dalman. Tyler Linderbaum is unquestionably, from a pure football standpoint, the best replacement for Drew Dalman at the center position for the Chicago Bears. Truly elite offensive lineman, particularly as young as Linderbaum is, rarely become available in free agency. The Bears have a chance to take advantage of this rare occurrence and turn the Dalman deficit into a Linder-boom.
What would it take to sign Tyler Linderbaum?
But the rubber meets the road in crafting a contract that will reward Linderbaum as the highest paid center in the NFL and still fit that in the Bears cap structure. As I’ve already noted, Linderbaum has turned down a contract roughly in the 20 million AAV range with the Ravens, although the exact specifics of that offer are not known. So what contract could we reasonably project the Bears to sign Linderbaum to in free agency? In this scenario, our Bears outbid the Ravens and other interested teams (e.g., the Giants) with a four-year, $82 million deal ($20.5 million AAV), including $45 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus. This makes him the highest-paid center, surpassing Creed Humphrey’s $18 million AAV benchmark. The contract will have a 2026 cap hit of around $12-15 million (via void years or bonus proration).
Fitting a Linderbaum Contract into the Bears’ Cap
The 2026 NFL salary cap is set at $301.2 million, a record high but still a challenge for the Bears, who entered the offseason with roughly -$5.3 million in effective cap space (per OverTheCap estimates). After Dalman’s retirement, however, the Bears now have room under the cap before we make any cap-related moves (approximately $7.5 million). But to sign Linderbaum, and still make the other moves the Bears need to make this offseason, GM Ryan Poles would need to create roughly $60-70 million in space—entirely feasible through restructures, cuts, and extensions. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of potential maneuvers, based on current contracts:
Restructured Contracts
Montez Sweat (DE)
+$18.5 million
Convert base salary to bonus dropping the $25 million cap hit
Trades
DJ Moore (WR)
+$16.5 million
A trade before June 1 would result in $12 million dead cap against his total $28.5 million total 2026 cap hit
Tremain Edmunds (LB)
+$15.0 million
A trade before June 1 would result in roughly $2.5 million in dead money
Restructure Contract with Extension
Jaylon Johnson (CB)
+$8.0 million
A small extension for JJ lowers his 2026 cap hit
Dalman Retirement
Drew Dalman (OC)
+$13.0 million
Dalman’s retirement takes his 2026 contract off the books and the Bears recover most of his unearned bonus
Total Projected Space Created: $71 million.
This would still leave the Bears with roughly $50 million in 2026 cap space after adding Linderbaum’s $15 million 2026 cap hit. Even in a scenario where the Bears have to go to $23 or $24 million AAV, Poles could shift that money into the back end of the contract, with the Bears expecting to come out from under the contracts of Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo in 2027.
What do you think, Chicago Bears fans? Should the Chicago Bears bet big on Tyler Linderbaum as the replacement for Drew Dalman at offensive center? Do these cap moves look reasonable, and will it permit the Bears to make all of the moves they must make this offseason as they seek to make over their defense? Tell us in the comments below!
