Despite having a wildly surprising and successful 2025 season, the Chicago Bears are looking to build on that momentum for a Super Bowl trip. While a large chunk of their offensive production is injured or on new teams, the Bears have brought in players to compete in training camp for several positions. Here are three offense training camp battles and the players competing for those positions.
The Bears fanbase was stunned when 27-year-old starting center Drew Dalman announced his retirement on March 3, 2026. After completing only one year of his three-year contract, Dalman left Chicago with a void at center. With the position being crucial to the continued development of quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears took a two-pronged attack to address the need at center.
The first move Chicago made was trading a 2026 fifth-round draft pick for New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury. The seven-year starter comes to the Bears after one season with the Patriots, where he started every game and did not commit a penalty. Pro Football Focus has the 31-year-old Bradbury as the 30th-ranked center in 2025, slightly better at pass blocking than run blocking. He is currently on a one-year $4.7 million contract with the Bears.
Despite trading for Bradbury, the Bears doubled down on the position by drafting University of Iowa center Logan Jones. The four-year college starter was named an All-American after the 2025 NCAA football season and is highly regarded as the best center prospect in the NFL draft. While the second-round pick should be the future center for Chicago, he will look to take the starting job right out of the gate.
Current Favorite: Garrett Bradbury
Predicted Winner: Logan Jones
After losing Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency and trading DJ Moore, the Bears will have fierce competition for the third receiver position. Rookie Luther Burden III manned the position in 2025, totaling 47 receptions for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns. An important position in the Ben Johnson offense, the team has a few options going into training camp.
The Bears signed a familiar foe, Kalif Raymond, during free agency. The former Detroit Lions wide receiver signed a one-year, $5.1 million contract with Chicago, reuniting with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The 31-year-old had 24 receptions for 289 yards and 1 touchdown in his final season with the Lions.
A player who came on at the end of the 2025 season to make a name for himself, Jahdae Walker is a candidate for the third receiver spot. Despite having 6 receptions for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns, the rookie was a trusted target for Williams at the end of the season. The 24-year-old Walker looks to make strides in his second season in the system.
A dark horse in the training camp battle could come from rookie Zavion Thomas. The third-round pick had 41 receptions for 488 yards and 4 touchdowns for LSU in 2025. Also a rushing threat, he had 19 rushes for 99 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. The speedster posted a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, making him an attractive player for coach Ben Johnson’s system.
Current Favorite: Kalif Raymond
Predicted Winner: Kalif Raymond
After rookie Ozzy Trapilo took control of the left tackle position in the second half of the season, the Bears were devastated when he tore his patellar tendon. The injury occurred in the team’s NFC Wild Card game against the Packers. Given the severity of the injury and its timing, Trapilo is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season. With one of the most important positions open, the Bears are hoping someone will assert dominance and take control of the spot.
The supposed leader going into training camp is former starting left tackle Braxton Jones. After being seriously injured during the 2024 season, the former fifth-round pick started the 2025 season as the left tackle before being benched after Week 4. The 27-year-old Jones has started 44 games at left tackle since he entered the NFL in 2022. Now fully healed, Jones looks to reclaim his starting position entering training camp.
During free agency, Chicago added to the left-tackle competition by signing Jedrick Wills Jr. to a one-year, $1.215 million contract. The former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns is looking to salvage his career after repeated knee injuries and a decline in performance. The 27-year-old lost his starting job after the 2024 season and is seen as a low-risk, high-potential signing for the Bears.
Considered long shots for the position, Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie will also compete. As a rookie in 2025, Benedet started weeks 6-11 for the Bears before being replaced at the position by Trapilo. After only starting one game since being drafted in 2024, Amegadjie has the hardest path to winning the left tackle starting job. Injuries have hampered the former third-round pick and stunted his on-field development.
Current Favorite: Braxton Jones
Predicted Winner: Braxton Jones
The Bears have several positions that needed fixing going into the 2026 season. With the draft done and free agency winding down, Chicago has added several players in key offensive positions. These position battles should make for an exciting training camp at Halas Hall.
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