Just days before free agency, Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman shocked the NFL world by announcing his retirement. The 27-year-old earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time this past season after signing with the Bears in free agency.
His retirement could have a significant impact on the Green Bay Packers in the short-term future. The very near future, in fact.
Free agency opens next week, and the Packers need a center. Green Bay will likely move on from Elgton Jenkins, and Sean Rhyan is a free agent, potentially leaving a void at the heart of the offensive line. The Bears now also need a new center, leaving the Packers with a potential problem.
Bears have already lined up a visit with a free-agent center who should be on the Packers' radar
Another former Pro Bowl center, Tyler Biadasz, made the headlines last week after the Washington Commanders surprisingly released him. It was almost too perfect for the Packers. Signing Biadasz would not only solve Green Bay's problem at center, but it wouldn't impact its future compensatory picks by acquiring him.
It's unclear at this stage whether the Packers have any interest in signing Biadasz, but we already know the Bears do. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, they plan to host the free-agent center for a visit. It doesn't guarantee he will sign with the Bears, but it potentially puts them in pole position for his signature.
Tyler Linderbaum is far and away the best center in free agency, but he will likely reset the market at the center position, a bidding war the Packers can't compete in. The Bears, though, have shown interest, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Biadasz becoming available felt like a golden opportunity at just the right time, but that now looks less likely to happen. It could force Green Bay to turn to the draft, or even to re-sign Rhyan to ensure they have insurance at the position.
The Packers may face competition from another NFC North rival, as the Detroit Lions also need a center. Detroit released veteran Graham Glasgow this week, and while it did acquire Juice Scruggs in the David Montgomery-to-Texans trade, the Lions will presumably still add more competition.
Several teams need help at center. The Packers and Lions were already in the market, but Dalman's signing forces the Bears into the mix.