Drew Dalman Had Incredible Response To How He Can Help Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears entered the off-season with one agenda in mind: to help Caleb Williams. That meant the obvious objective of fixing an offensive line that allowed 68 sacks last season. GM Ryan Poles got straight to work, flipping 4th and 6th round picks in trades for veteran guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. However, head coach Ben Johnson knew the best way to bring everything together was to find a dependable center. That is why they came out of the gates strong by signing Drew Dalman, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons.

The former 4th round pick developed into their starter in 2022 and showed steady improvement over the next three seasons. While injuries kept him out of some games last year, he played well when he returned. Johnson sees him as the "quarterback of the offensive line" moving forward, lauding Dalman's intelligence. That was on display when the center was asked about how he could help Williams. It boils down to him being an extra pair of eyes for the quarterback, identifying what defenses plan to do with their pressure packages.

Drew Dalman understands his role, and that is crucial.

One thing that always stood out about him in Atlanta was that he was rarely caught off guard. He consistently picked up blitzes and stunts, and his ability to find the right position on every block made him a constant factor. After a tough opener against Pittsburgh in 2024, he allowed just seven pressures in his next eight starts. He also had another excellent year as a run-blocker. Michael Penix Jr. certainly benefitted from his presence.

Across three games, the rookie threw for over 700 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. One was a blowout win, and the other two were overtime losses. Drew Dalman allowed only two pressures over that stretch. There is no question he can be the best friend to a young quarterback. The Bears don't need him to be a superstar. If he plays at the same level he has for the past calendar year, the blocking will be significantly better.