Chicago Bears Quietly Looking Into Draft's Projected Best Center

The Chicago Bears have struggled to find stability at center for years. Cody Whitehair was the closest they came but even he had his issues with consistency. Lucas Patrick wasn't the solution they were hoping for. Now, they're ready to give recent trade acquisition Ryan Bates a shot at the job despite limited experience at the position. They also signed veteran Coleman Shelton as insurance. It is difficult not to feel like this is another stop-gap measure that won't provide any stability. This might explain why GM Ryan Poles and his staff are digging deep into the array of center prospects for this 2024 draft.

They met with multiple big names at the scouting combine, such as Jackson Powers-Johnson and Sedrick Van Pran. They've also brought in West Virginia's Zach Frazier for a top 30 visit. According to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network, they're adding who many project to be the best center in this class to that list.

Graham Barton was a stud left tackle for Duke throughout his college career, earning a reputation as a strong and nasty blocker with freakish athleticism. At 6'5, 315 lbs, he has great size for the NFL. So why is he projected as a center? It largely has to do with his sub-33-inch arms. That lack of length would expose him against pro edge rushers. Moving inside makes plenty of sense.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Barton is easy to understand.

In many ways, he is a carbon copy of Teven Jenkins with that delightful mix of a mean-streak finisher and the ability to play in space. He's instinctive and intelligent, able to withstand both power and speed. If Jenkins can transform into a Pro Bowl-caliber player after moving inside, there is every reason to think Barton can do the same. He also doesn't have the health red flags. The curious thing is that most projections have him going either late in the 1st round or early in the 2nd. The Bears have no picks anywhere close to that range.

This means one of two things. Either they think there is at least a minor chance he slips to the 3rd round, or they view him as a viable option if they decide to trade down from the #9 pick. The latter feels more likely. This meeting is an effort by Poles to get all the data possible so he's prepared for any scenario. It remains likely the Chicago Bears stay at #9 to take the best player on their board. Still, if the right offer to move down comes up, he must be ready to know who he'll take later in the round. Barton would be a fun option.