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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Tyler Linderbaum #64 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears were hit with brutal news when center Drew Dalman announced his retirement, and a lot of eyes were on whether the team would make a push for Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum during free agency. “The Bears have sniffed around Tyler Linderbaum,” NFL insider Albert Breer tweeted out before the start of free agency. Chicago ended up seeing Linderbaum leave for the Las Vegas Raiders on a massive $27 annual salary, the most by a center in NFL history, and opted to draft Iowa center Logan Jones in the second round.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that the Bears were “smitten” with Jones throughout the pre-draft process, with Ben Johnson saying he believed he was their guy.
“The mental is top notch,” Johnson said regarding Jones. “We saw all the traits we’re looking for, whether it’s the run game or pass pro. And we brought him in for a Top 30 and I think that’s when it really solidified it for us that, yeah, he has the makeup. The guys at Iowa were raving about him. And then just the next level as far as football IQ as well. I think none of us have any qualms that he’ll be able to download the information. And once again, that’s just another spot where we’ll have high level competition.”
There’s a lot of praise for Jones, and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz added to that praise, comparing him to Linderbaum, who is now the highest-paid center in NFL history and one of the top centers in the NFL.
GettyLogan Jones #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks on before the match-up against the Oregon Ducks.
Ferentz appeared on 104.3 The Score Chicago and made his feelings clear on Jones and how he’s on the same track as Linderbaum.
“He’s got an unbelievable attitude, great work ethic. Comes from a great family. …He’s just done the hard work that it takes to become a good player. He had a six-year career, started out as a defensive lineman and made the transition over to offense pretty seamlessly, and basically followed the steps of Tyler Linderbaum who just went to the Raiders, Pro Bowl player from the Baltimore Ravens. And I need to make those comparisons but they’re similar in the fact that their approach to what they do is very very consistent. And I told people that Tyler hasn’t changed. He’s the same guy that’s signed a pretty big contract a couple of weeks ago and he’s in here working out with us, with a bunch of college kids, and that’s who he is, and Logan’s the same way. Just all about the business and doesn’t get distracted and I thought he was an outstanding pick by the Bears.”
That’s everything you’d want to hear about the team’s rookie center, and if Ferentz is right about the comparison, then the Bears just got a Pro Bowl-caliber center at a fraction of the cost.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz on new Bears center Logan Jones: “He’s got an unbelievable attitude, a great work ethic. He comes from a great family.
“He’s just done the hard work that it takes to become a good player.”
Ferentz explains how Jones and Tyler Linderbaum are similar.
Logan Jones feels like he’s already at home with the Bears.
“It reminded me a lot of Iowa; just the culture, the people,” Jones said. “It truly is a special place. I can just tell. I’m just so fortunate. I was hoping I’d get the call and to be able to come play here. To be able to do that, it’s a dream come true.”
Jones is expected to be in a two-man battle for the starting center spot with veteran Garrett Bradbury, who the Bears traded a fifth-round pick for this offseason.
“Garrett Bradbury’s here,” Jones said. “He’s been in the league for a long time, and you’ve got a bunch of other guards. [Joe] Thuney [is] a [future] Hall of Famer. I’ve just got to learn from them and ask questions. Obviously, there’s a competition part of it. You both compete; iron sharpens iron type of thing. So, we’ll both get better for it. I’m just going to come in and work as hard as I can.”
Regardless of what happens, the hope is that Jones can continue to work hard and become the future at center.
Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga
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