Bears shouldn't rush to trade Garrett Bradbury

Starting rookies out of the gate isn't something Johnson seems keen on doing. Last season, the Bears got plenty out of their rookie draft class, with players such as tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III, tackle Ozzy Trapilo, and running back Kyle Monangai all becoming key contributors as the season went on. But all of them were eased in. Loveland, Burden, and Monangai didn't become focal points until midseason, while Trapilo was a healthy scratch despite being a second-round pick. Johnson leaned on the veterans early on until the rookies showed they were ready. And with a position as important as center, they're not going to rush Jones when they know Bradbury can get the job done.

The timing for a trade doesn't make sense, either. Jones is just now practicing as part of rookie mini camp and has yet to formally work with Williams or any of the starting offensive linemen. Jones is talented and should become a dependable center at some point, but why push your chips in all the way before he shows what he can do at the NFL level? Five years ago, former general manager Ryan Pace did just that when he cut left tackle Charles Leno Jr. just days after trading up to select Teven Jenkins in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jenkins wound up missing most of his rookie season with a back injury, and the Bears were forced to scramble to find a replacement just weeks before the regular season began.

If the Bears get through training camp and it becomes abundantly clear that Jones has overtaken Bradbury after the final preseason game, then a trade could make sense if there's a team willing to offer enough compensation. But the coaching staff needs to see both players compete day in and day out first before making any definitive decisions. Bradbury isn't going anywhere yet, and that is the correct move for the Bears.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears shouldn't rush to trade Garrett Bradbury