LAKE FOREST, Ill., — With OTA’s officially in the books and mandatory minicamp the next step on the NFL’s offseason calendar, the Chicago Bears have started to piece together a plan for what training camp during July and August could hold.
In the third year of the Ryan Poles-Matt Eberflus era, the franchise will have a number of key roster decisions to make. The worst-kept secret about the 2024 offseason is that Chicago’s roster moves were largely predicated on building a team that would allow No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams to succeed.
With Williams now on the roster, the Bears will begin extensive evaluations regarding the core around him. For the third straight offseason, offensive line is a position that saw some significant overhaul.
The franchise was active throughout the spring, adding talent via the trade market and free agency. In March, the Bears sent a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for 27-year old Ryan Bates. 10 days later, veteran Coleman Shelton was signed to a one-year deal.
For the first time since 2016, there will be a new face in the middle of the offensive line. Chicago moved on from longtime starter Cody Whitehair this offseason, citing injury history, age, and additional savings as reasons.
“We’ve been rotating some,” said Eberflus. “We’re working on both guys and getting used to both centers. At some point you need two centers, as we all know during the course of the year, and we’re just training those guys.”
The plan at center, is to create a situation where either Bates or Shelton can slide in seamlessly, allowing Williams to play comfortably. Between both veterans, they’ve started a total of 51 games and do have a high level of versatility, possessing the ability to play either guard spots or stick solely to playing center.
Despite the obvious uncertainty about which player could get the opening day start for Chicago, Eberflus danced around the question when asked last week if the team was actually holding a competition at the center position.
“Right now I think everything’s a competition,” said Eberflus. “I really do. I think that most spots are competitive and that’s the best way to do it.”
