Garrett Bradbury

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bears landed a solid starter at a reasonable price, earning Bradbury's deal a C CVI that reflects fair market value for a veteran center. At $4.8M AAV, Chicago is paying appropriate money for what Bradbury brings — competent pass protection and NFL experience at football's most cerebral position, though he's never elevated into the upper tier of centers despite five seasons as a starter. The timing works well for a 30-year-old player who likely has 2-3 productive years left, giving the Bears stability while they continue building around Caleb Williams without breaking the bank on premium talent. The modest $3.8M in guaranteed money limits Chicago's downside risk, while the two-year term provides flexibility to reassess the position after Williams' rookie contract. This represents exactly the type of pragmatic roster-building move that contending teams need — addressing a key need without overpaying for name recognition, allowing the Bears to allocate bigger money to impact players at premium positions.

Performance Analysis

Garrett Bradbury receives the lowest possible F grade after seven NFL seasons of below-replacement-level play at center. Despite starting 74 games across stints with Minnesota and New England, Bradbury has been consistently graded as one of the worst interior linemen in football. The raw stats for a center are always going to look sparse, but his performance grades paint a picture of a player who has been a liability in both pass protection and run blocking throughout his career. Minnesota moved on from him, New England gave him a shot, and now he is with the Bears — which tells you that teams keep hoping he will figure it out despite all evidence to the contrary. Bradbury is the cautionary tale of a first-round center who simply never developed into an NFL-caliber starter.

Fan Sentiment

A serviceable stopgap acquisition that addresses an immediate need without inspiring confidence. Multiple headlines confirm Bradbury replaces retired Drew Dalman, giving Chicago a known quantity at center. The strongest signal is Caleb Williams actively building chemistry with Bradbury, suggesting offensive continuity matters most here. Fans are cautious, with draft buzz indicating the Bears may still target a long-term center upgrade. Bradbury stabilizes the position short-term, but likely remains a placeholder pending a higher-upside solution.